Inflation is Reshaping Summer for American Children, New National Parents Union Poll Finds

Nearly Three-Quarters of Parents Say Inflation Has Changed Their Children’s Summer Plans

65% of parents believe the economic conditions in the U.S. are getting worse

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 15, 2026 — Summer should be a season of opportunity, exploration, and family time, but for millions of American families, rising costs are forcing painful tradeoffs. A new national survey from the National Parents Union finds nearly three-quarters (73%) say inflation has already changed their plans for what their children will do this summer. In addition, the majority of parents (65%) believe economic conditions are getting worse.

“Parents are telling us loud and clear that the affordability crisis is no longer just showing up in their grocery bills and gas tanks, it’s reshaping childhood in America,” said Keri Rodrigues, President of the National Parents Union. “Families are canceling vacations, pulling kids out of camps and summer programs, and working extra hours just to keep up. While Washington debates how to spend taxpayer money on ballrooms and endless foreign wars, American parents are making impossible choices — stretching every dollar, carrying the emotional weight of not being able to do enough, and watching opportunities slip out of their children’s reach.”

How Inflation is Changing Childhood this Summer

Among parents who say inflation has altered their summer plans:

57% say they have canceled or scaled back a family trip.
50% say they have canceled or scaled back camps or extracurricular activities.
33% say they will not be able to stay home with their children because they need to work extra hours.

Families are Feeling Pressure from Every Direction:

Nearly nine in ten parents (89%) are reporting the rising cost of everyday purchases such as food and gas is a problem for their family, including 63% who describe it as a “very big problem.
80% of parents believe the rising cost of housing or rent is a big problem.
76% of parents believe the cost of health care is a big problem.
76% of parents believe the cost of college or other education after high school is a big problem.

Parents Want Investments that Help Children and Families

The survey also found broad agreement among parents about where public resources should be focused.

85% say expanding access to academic tutoring for K-12 students is a good use of taxpayer money.
79% say increasing the Child Tax Credit for low- and middle-income families is a good use of taxpayer money.
81% say constructing a new White House ballroom is a bad use of taxpayer money.

“Parents are making difficult choices every day about what they can and cannot afford for their children and they expect their leaders and representatives to meet that same moment with empathy and seriousness,” Rodrigues said. “American families don’t need politicians — they need policymakers who show up every day in Washington committed to making their lives better. Our message hasn’t changed: focus on the kitchen table issues that keep parents up at night, invest in policy and programs that help children learn and families stay afloat, and remember who you were sent there to serve.”

National Parents Union Survey
Survey of N= 1,527 parents of public school students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade nationwide using non-probability sampling.
Field Dates: May 28– June 1, 2026
Margin of Error: ± 2.7 Percentage Points

Click here for toplines.

About the National Parents Union

The National Parents Union is a network of parent organizations and grassroots activists working to improve the quality of life for children and families across the country. NPU represents more than 1.7 million families through over 1,800 affiliated organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.