In the turbulent economic environment, money is losing its value. Consumers are reevaluating their spending across sectors. With a looming crisis of trust in financial institutions, how are people managing their budgets? And how can brands navigate the complex relationship between value and cost?

In the US, inflation is impacting back-to-school shopping as average price increases of 15% force many parents to practice more cautious spending on supplies and clothes. People are looking for ways to relieve seasonal financial pressures by spreading costs and holding out for bargains.

Grocery technology retailer Instacart is encouraging parents to take advantage of its selection of back-to-school products. Ranging from grocery shopping to clothing and school supplies, the platform aims to make the return to school more efficient, simple, and affordable.

Gen Alphas were born into an already-digitized world and are expected to spend more time online than any generation before them. As they gear up to go back to school amid ongoing cost of living pressures, what factors are likely to influence the types of stationery they buy?

Back-to-school season has brought conflicting feelings for parents who are seeing their children off to classes for the first time since the start of the pandemic. As COVID-19 wears on, so does the debate about how to keep kids safe. How can moms and dads be helped to manage their concerns?