KINGSTON, Jamaica — Parents continue to feel the pinch of back-to-school expenses as textbooks increased by five per cent for the second year in a row,  the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) says.

The Annual Schoolbook Survey, done between July 30 and August 3, looked at 130 secondary and 32 primary texts across 59 book outlets.

The prices of primary books were similar in price to last year across the board however secondary texts tended to have significant differences in cost, especially in the Kingston Metropolitan Area, the CAC survey said.

In addition, availability of some books, particularly those in the technical areas, remains a challenge, the survey found.

The CAC advised that parents use the supplementary list, which has been endorsed by the Education Ministry, adding that they should also use the National Textbook Rental Scheme or purchase pre-owned texts to cut costs.