Overview

• Statistisches Bundesamt data show school and teaching book prices climbed 3.8% year-on-year in June, outpacing a 2.0% rise in overall consumer prices.
• Notebooks and drawing pads saw marginal inflation of 0.3%, with writing and drawing materials such as pens and paint boxes increasing 1.7%.
• Full Lernmittelfreiheit in Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, Thüringen, Sachsen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern places soaring book costs on state budgets; parents elsewhere must bear part or all of the expenses.
• The German Institute for Economic Research forecasts average inflation of 2.1% in 2025 following peaks above 6% in 2022 and 5.9% in 2023.
• Linke party leader Jan van Aken has demanded a nationwide policy to provide free schoolbooks for all public school students.