Is it me or are clothes more expensive this season?

[brimfull]

keep seeing things i'd like to buy but the price is putting me off

have no proof at all and could be talking bollocks but was wondering

I've spotted tags on clothes in Euros and £s and the difference isn't much, which tells me prices have definitely risen in UK. Eg saw something recently at 11 Euros/£10. 18 months ago would have been more like 11 euros/ £8. Weaker pound makes things dearer.

True about the Euro thing OLDER. However, I think clothes will get more expensive with the VAT increase next year

It's not your imagination.

There's been quite a lot on the news about rising price of cotton having a knock on effect on retailers who are having to hike up prices.

See here

And - sorry to be a doom-monger - but it will get a whole lot more noticeable in January when VAT goes up to 20%

yes they warned earlier this year of the increases so i'd definitely buy as much now if you can (large expensive items) before vat hike too

imo clothes (some retailers) were ridiculously cheap and badly made so not worth it anyway

Very wise Southeastastra. I've been trying to get big things now too while I can afford it.

But the increased cost won't mean the quality's improved or that the retailers aren't using sweatshop/child labour. It just means that the increased cost of the raw materials has been passed on to the consumer. Same old tat. Same old unethical trading. Higher prices. At a time when the poor have just been made even poorer.

Sorry, a bit too political for S&B section!

Surely VAT rising by a few percent will add... pence on to the aforementioned 8 pound item?

The price of cotton has risen tremendously, this will have an effect if not now, next summer, plus the VAT increase will take its toll in the new year

If you're poor/unemployed/lost all your benefits and you're counting the pennies, I'm pretty sure you'll notice the VAT difference when you need to buy winter coats/boots for your DCs.

if you're paid a pretty average wage you'll notice it too you know!

But there is no VAT on children's clothes and shoes!

On the other hand, the High street is really struggling and there are going to be big discounts to be had in mid-season sales/promotional days etc. Retailers are also expecting to go into sale even earlier this year in the hope of shifting stock.

Some retailers seem to have kept prices constant, but the quality esp of cotton items seems to have really dropped. I was looking at cotton tops recently in places like Fat Face. Their tops used to be well made and last ages. I couldn't beleive how thin they all were!

OK, so buying your own winter boots and coats. There might not be VAT on kids stuff but that doesn't stop retailers from hiking up the prices!

Foundwanting, I agree. I think a lot of retailers are likely to go bust. Rising raw material costs + increased VAT + a general public under huge financial pressure from our idiot government = a pretty difficult time to be trading on the high street.

I had a job interview this week with an international clothing supplier - they're forecasting their sales to double in the next 2 years!

I was in M&S and saw a drape dress that was £29.50 last year, this year it's £39.50.
Up by 25%!!

Everything does seem to have gone up by a big chunk this year in certain shops.

I think we've become so used to cheap(er) clothes that we don't remember the old days. I used to have to have clothes for Xmas and birthdays as a child with virtually nothing inbetween.

Ok, alot more than 25% but it is early!

I think it's true, and people have noticed (hence fall in retail sales last month). I think it's a new strategy, as for the last 2 years we've had pre-Christmas sales, and the retailers probably reckon they'll have to do it again, so they've inflated the prices in order to give the illusion of reductions.

At the same time though, some things do seem to be selling out pretty quickly, so presumably their stock levels are also low.

For the last two years I have bought my ds2 a pair of snow type boots in asda. The first year they were about £6, last year I think they were £8, this year £12.50!

these sort of boots

So, because the difference between these cheaper ones and the nicer more ones is now so little, I'm buying him the expensive ones!

i agree that we've become used to cheap prices and we're back to reality now-damn