{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/business/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","slug":"us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","url":"https://mediabias.news/business/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","title":"US children's shoe prices rise at fastest rate in 34 years outside pandemic","subtitle":"Families report frustration as costs climb 3.2% in first half of 2026, outpacing other back-to-school expenses","excerpt":"Children's shoe prices in the US rose 3.2% in the first half of 2026, the fastest increase in 34 years outside pandemic years. Parents report frustration with rising costs and perceived quality declines, while retailers note families are buying fewer pairs or spending more time searching for deals.","category":"Business & Economy","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T17:46:49.016Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-08-13T14:01:44.063Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-13T17:46:49.016Z","readTime":"5 min read","scores":{"trust":70,"critic":65,"hype":15,"notes":{"trust":"Two full reports corroborate key details; digests agree on central claim.","critic":"Quotes from affected parents and experts; clear separation of fact and comment.","hype":"Headlines and digests are measured and proportionate."}},"tags":["#USInflation","#BackToSchoolCosts","#ChildrensFootwear","#RetailEconomy","#TariffPolicy"],"entities":["Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association","Jonah Seidenberg","Lisa Seidenberg","Elizabeth Powers","Priya Parthasarathy","Almi Guajardo Abeyta"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Children’s shoe prices rose 3.2% in the first half of 2026, the fastest increase in 34 years outside pandemic years, according to the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association.","Parents report frustration with rising costs and what they describe as declining quality, leading some to limit purchases or seek discounts.","The Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association attributes the price increases to tariff policies and the Iran war, which has driven up costs for petroleum-derived products like shoes.","Children aged 7 to 10 outgrow shoes every six to nine months, while teens outgrow them annually, adding to the financial strain on families."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Children’s shoe prices in the United States rose 3.2% in the first half of 2026, the fastest increase in 34 years outside the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association reported the rise, which it linked to tariff policies and the Iran war. The association said these factors have driven up costs for petroleum-derived products used in shoe manufacturing."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Parents across the country report frustration with the rising costs and what they describe as a decline in quality. Elizabeth Powers, a San Francisco real estate agent with two children aged 7 and 11, said she finds it \"frustrating\" to replace shoes before her children outgrow them due to poor durability. Powers said she now limits spending to a couple of hundred dollars per child annually and searches for coupons to stretch her budget."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Children’s feet grow quickly, requiring frequent replacements. Priya Parthasarathy, a podiatrist and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, said children aged 7 to 10 outgrow shoes every six to nine months, while teens typically need new shoes annually. The rapid growth, combined with higher prices, has led some families to reduce the number of pairs they buy or spend more time searching for deals."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Shoes also carry social significance for children. Jonah Seidenberg, a 12-year-old from Northbrook, Illinois, said shoes can influence confidence and social acceptance. He and his mother, Lisa Seidenberg, now shop at thrift stores for clothing to save money for shoes. Jonah said ill-fitting or outdated shoes can invite bullying or prevent children from participating in sports."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Retailers have noted early signs of caution among shoppers. Beth Goldstein, an industry adviser at Circana, said adult footwear sales rose 1% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, while the number of pairs sold fell by 7%. The average sale price increased by 8%."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated digests mentioned the 3.2% increase in children’s shoe prices, the back-to-school timing, or the voices of parents, podiatrists or school officials. The centre-rated digests did not include the quotes from parents or school officials that appeared in the full reports from the left and centre. The left-rated reports did not omit any of the key facts or voices carried by the full reports."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"The Record","url":"https://troyrecord.com/2026/08/13/back-to-school-shoes-affordability","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children’s shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T17:55:50.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Los Angeles Times","url":"https://latimes.com/business/story/2026-08-13/back-to-school-sneaker-sticker-shock-squeezes-parents-budgets","headline":"Back-to-school sneaker sticker shock squeezes parents' budgets","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T14:01:44.063Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Top News","url":"https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2026/08/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children’s shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:13:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Winnipeg Free Press","url":"https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2026/08/13/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:10:40.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Toronto Star","url":"https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school/article_0ffe9a49-880d-501d-a564-4cfc0eef78a5.html","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children’s shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:10:40.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Airdrie City View","url":"https://airdriecityview.com/lifestyle/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school-12660527","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:10:40.000Z"},{"sourceName":"thealbertan.com","url":"https://thealbertan.com/lifestyle/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school-12660527","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:10:40.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Seattle Times","url":"https://seattletimes.com/business/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school","headline":"Higher prices for kids' footwear strain family budgets","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:10:08.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Independent","url":"https://independent.co.uk/news/families-kids-new-york-iran-dicks-sporting-goods-b3032543.html","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:09:49.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Associated Press News","url":"https://apnews.com/article/shoes-school-prices-economy-12fb5722832d79cd118140b415723ef6","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:09:49.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Yuma Sun","url":"https://yumasun.com/news/national_news/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school/article_0bc59fd8-5449-56ee-9d55-dc2ee9221213.html","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:09:49.000Z"},{"sourceName":"NBC Dallas-Fort Worth","url":"https://nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/local-nonprofit-launches-back-to-school-shoe-drive-for-children-of-domestic-violence-survivors/4061923","headline":"Nonprofit launches back-to-school shoe drive for children of domestic violence","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T05:59:57.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The West Australian","url":"https://thewest.com.au/news/regional/frontline-workers-in-regions-given-more-access-to-family-domestic-violence-training-as-program-expands-c-22718984","headline":"Regions get access to family and domestic violence training","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T04:12:15.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Busselton-Dunsborough Times","url":"https://bdtimes.com.au/news/regional/frontline-workers-in-regions-given-more-access-to-family-domestic-violence-training-as-program-expands-c-22718984","headline":"Regions get access to family and domestic violence training","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T04:12:15.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Bunbury Herald","url":"https://bunburyherald.com.au/news/regional/frontline-workers-in-regions-given-more-access-to-family-domestic-violence-training-as-program-expands-c-22718984","headline":"Regions get access to family and domestic violence training","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T04:12:15.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":58,"centre":34,"right":8},"count":{"left":7,"centre":4,"right":1},"totalSources":15,"untracked":3,"rated":12,"observedAt":"2026-08-13T19:45:29.292700+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-08-13T20:00:10.149Z","closedAt":null,"checks":9,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["The seven left-rated digests and full reports led on the financial strain rising shoe prices place on families. The Associated Press and Washington Top News, whose full reports are printed below, both opened with the story of Jonah Seidenberg, a 12-year-old who wanted a pair of $145 Nike Minds sneakers. Both reports quoted his mother, Lisa Seidenberg, describing the family’s decision to buy the shoes despite the cost.","The left-rated reports carried the voices of parents, podiatrists and school officials. The Associated Press quoted Elizabeth Powers, a San Francisco parent, saying she finds it \"incredibly frustrating\" to replace shoes before her children outgrow them due to poor quality. It also quoted Almi Guajardo Abeyta, a school superintendent in Chelsea, Massachusetts, who said worn-out shoes are a visible sign of childhood poverty in her community.","The left-rated reports included the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association’s attribution of price increases to tariff policies and the Iran war. The Associated Press and Washington Top News both named President Donald Trump’s tariff policies as a factor. The reports also carried the statistic that children aged 7 to 10 outgrow shoes every six to nine months."],"centre":["The three centre-rated digests led on the back-to-school timing of the price increases. WTOP, whose full report is printed below, opened with the story of Jonah Seidenberg and his mother’s search for the Nike Minds sneakers. The digest from the Winnipeg Free Press also began with the Seidenbergs’ experience, while the Yuma Sun’s digest repeated the same opening line.","The centre-rated digests carried the 3.2% price increase figure and the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association’s attribution of the rise to tariff policies and the Iran war. They also included the statistic that children aged 7 to 10 outgrow shoes every six to nine months. None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the voices of parents or school officials quoted in the full reports."],"right":["The single right-rated digest, from The West Australian, did not mention children’s shoe prices or the back-to-school season. It focused instead on a domestic violence training programme for frontline workers in regional Western Australia. The digest did not carry any of the facts or voices reported by the other outlets."],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"right","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"mixed":1,"high":9,"unknown":4,"veryHigh":1},"ownershipDistribution":{"privateEquity":2,"mediaConglomerate":2,"billionaire":2,"independent":2,"corporation":1},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"The West Australian","url":"https://thewest.com.au/news/regional/frontline-workers-in-regions-given-more-access-to-family-domestic-violence-training-as-program-expands-c-22718984","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T04:12:15.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"Osborne Park, City of Stirling, Western Australia, Australia","count":1},{"country":"Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, United States","count":1},{"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","count":1},{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":1},{"country":"Seattle, King County, Washington, United States","count":1},{"country":"Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada","count":1},{"country":"Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Canada","count":1},{"country":"Chevy Chase, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States","count":1},{"country":"El Segundo, Los Angeles County, California, United States","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"The West Australian","url":"https://thewest.com.au/news/regional/frontline-workers-in-regions-given-more-access-to-family-domestic-violence-training-as-program-expands-c-22718984","headline":"Regions get access to family and domestic violence training","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T04:12:15.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Osborne Park, City of Stirling, Western Australia, Australia","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Busselton-Dunsborough 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News"},{"name":"thealbertan.com","url":"https://thealbertan.com/lifestyle/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school-12660527","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:10:40.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Washington Top News","url":"https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2026/08/families-feel-the-pinch-of-higher-childrens-shoe-prices-as-kids-head-back-to-school","headline":"Families feel the pinch of higher children’s shoe prices as kids head back to school","publishedAt":"2026-08-13T13:13:00.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Chevy Chase, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States","repostedFrom":"Associated Press News"},{"name":"Los Angeles 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They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"US children's shoe prices rise at fastest rate in 34 years outside pandemic\", https://mediabias.news/business/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/business/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/business/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/business/us-childrens-shoe-prices-rise-at-fastest-rate-in-34-years-outside-pandemic.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}