Erfurt (dpa/th) – Just in time for the start of the new school year, stationery and drawing materials are significantly more expensive than a year ago. Consumers have to pay 12.4 percent more in July than in the same month last year, as the Thuringian State Office for Statistics announced on Friday. The price increase is again significantly higher than the current inflation in Thuringia – this was 7.6 percent above the level of the same month last year.

According to the information, the largest price increases were for printer paper (plus 19.4 percent) and exercise books and drawing pads (plus 17.3 percent). The reason for the price increase was, among other things, the ongoing paper shortage and increasing costs in paper production.

The people of Thuringia also had to invest significantly more for fountain pen cartridges (plus 15.2 percent) and file folders, hole punches or other office supplies (plus 15.4 percent). The prices for fountain pens, ballpoint pens or similar (plus 0.4 percent) as well as satchels or school backpacks (plus 2.5 percent), on the other hand, have risen more moderately than consumer prices overall.

According to the statisticians, even a small celebration for the inauguration of the school will be more expensive. For sausages (plus 23.8 percent) and fresh rolls (plus 18.5 percent) and barbecue sauce, soy sauce, salad dressing or the like (plus 20.3 percent), but also for mustard and ketchup (plus 11.4 percent), they have to Consumers pay significantly more.