As schools reopen this week, parents are facing a noticeable increase in the cost of notebooks,with prices rising by at least ₹5 each. ongoing crisis in West Asia has been identified as a key factor behind this surge,impacting transportation and raw material expenses .
Gangadharaiah, a bookshop owner on Avenue Road,reported that the retail price for a typical 75-80 page notebook,often labeled as 100-page book, has jumped from ₹25 to ₹30. Similarly,a 175-page notebook,commonly referred to as a 200-page book, now costs ₹50, up from ₹45. Popular brands are charging as much as ₹55 per notebook.
Parents are feeling the financial strain. Anand Pawar,who has two children enrolled in low-budget private school in Attiguppe,shared that he spent ₹2,000 this year on notebooks and textbooks, a significant increase from last year's ₹1,000. He noted that the rise in prices was unexpected but clearly linked to the current market conditions.
The Karnataka Offset Printers Association (KOPA) and various notebook manufacturers have pointed to West Asia crisis as a driving force behind the escalating costs. Peter Anil Rego,KOPA's president, explained that the industry is grappling with price hikes across all types of raw materials, including paper and packaging materials. He mentioned that suppliers are notifying them of price increases of 4-8% every few days,forcing manufacturers to pass these costs onto consumers.
In addition to raw material costs, transportation expenses are also on the rise. Saravana Kumar,a former secretary of Karnataka Paper Merchants and Stationers Association, highlighted that freight charges have increased by 5-10% due to rising petrol prices . He noted that the cost of paper has surged from ₹1,250 to ₹1,500 per tonne,as many paper mills are located about 300 kilometers from Bengaluru.
Gangadharaiah expressed concern over the profitability of the notebook business, particularly for smaller retailers . He pointed out that larger manufacturers and distributors dominate the market, often selling in bulk to private schools,which leaves smaller players struggling. He lamented, “What about small-scale manufacturers, distributors, and shop owners like us?” He also noted that government schools and colleges provide textbooks for free,further complicating the situation for private school parents.
The combination of rising costs and market monopolization has left many parents and small business owners feeling the pinch as the school year begins.
