US families feel the pinch as kids’ shoe prices rise
AgenciesWhen Jonah Seidenberg found out about Nike Minds, a futuristic-looking sneaker that claims to improve concentration by stimulating the soles of the feet, he had to have the...
The rising prices of children's shoes are putting a strain on family budgets as back-to-school season approaches. Jonah Seidenberg, a 12-year-old from Northbrook, Illinois, recently paid $145 for a pair of Nike Minds sneakers, a high-tech shoe designed to enhance concentration by stimulating the feet. His mother, Lisa Seidenberg, felt the price was beyond their budget, so Jonah contributed $40 from his own savings.
As kids return to school, the desire to be trendy or accepted through fashionable footwear is colliding with increasing costs. This has led families to search for deals or purchase fewer pairs, as reported by analysts and retailers. Many parents are choosing not to buy shoes that exceed their budgets, whether for expensive items like $300 Kobe Bryant kicks or $150 soccer cleats.
Shoe prices have risen by 3.2% in the first half of the year, with the full-year prices likely to increase at the fastest rate in 34 years, according to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association. Some parents, like San Francisco real estate agent Elizabeth Powers, find the rising prices frustrating, especially considering the decline in shoe quality.
With children growing out of shoes quickly, they often need replacement before they've worn them out due to inferior quality.
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