Back-to-school shopping ( bts ) is back again — and this time it looks a lot different.

Concern over tariffs is front and center this year, along with its impact on shoe prices. Parents this year are making “value” decisions based on where they can get the most bang for their buck, according to several studies.

“Inflation remains a major concern for both American consumers and businesses, especially as high tariffs are now in place across all of the footwear industry’s major supplier countries,” said American Apparel & Footwear Association president and CEO Steve Lamar. He said June’s consumer price index report shows that the added costs are beginning to filter through in different parts of the economy, which will present a challenge to budget-conscious consumers.

“Many footwear

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