Brexit: prices going up on food, tech, toys and more
A look at the various goods that have risen in price since the Brexit vote in June 2016.
It’s no secret that prices have been creeping up since we voted to leave the EU in June last year.
Here's a list of the price rises that companies claim has been down to Brexit and the weakening pound.
We’ll be providing regular updates about what is going up in price and what the firms in question had to say about it.
Apple apps and computer
In January, Apple hiked the price of everything in its App Store by 25% to mark the sharp depreciation in the pound following the Brexit vote.
In a statement, Apple said: “Price tiers on the App Store are set internationally on the basis of several factors, including currency exchange rates, business practices, taxes and the cost of doing business.
"These factors vary from region to region and over time.”
But that was small beer compared to changes it made last October: the computing giant hiked prices on various laptops and desktop computers by up to £500 off the back of the weak pound.
LEGO
Expect to pay more for your kids' LEGO sets this year. The plastic brickmaker announced in December it would charge retailers 5% more from January, but added it was up to them if they wanted to pass the price rise on to shoppers.
Bikes
Several bike brands have bumped up their prices since we voted to leave the EU. Expect to pay more for makes like Canyon, Brompton, Cannon and Merida.
Microsoft Surface
Microsoft has blamed its February price hikes on the Brexit-weakened pound. Tech news site TechCrunch spotted that the price tag on the premium Surface Book laptop had jumped by £150.
When asked about this, Microsoft explained it was “adjusting the British pound prices of some of our hardware and consumer software in order to align to market dynamics.”
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Musical instruments
Prices of musical instruments being imported to the UK have gone up 5-15%, according to Music Instrument News.
Wine and fizz
Fans of fizz will be sad to hear that the cost of champagne and prosecco are expected to go up this year.
Wine drinkers may have to pay an extra 29p if they want to buy a bottle of wine from the EU, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.
Shoppers at Majestic Wines may have noticed they are already paying 5% more for their plonk.
Beer
Carlsberg, Beck and Budweiser are 4% more expensive than they were a year ago, thanks to rising pressure on the beer industry.
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pubs Association (BBPA), told the Guardian:
"The depreciation of sterling certainly means there will be some inflationary pressures through increased costs such as raw materials, packaging, energy and transport costs as well as employment and other cost pressures all businesses face.
“It is also a concern that higher inflation will also lead to higher levels of indexation for taxes like Beer Duty, creating a vicious circle when it comes to cost pressures, which is why we are urging the chancellor to cut Beer Duty on a pint by one penny in the Budget.”
Mr Kipling cakes
Last year we reported on Premier Foods increasing prices on its products, including Oxo cubes, Bisto gravy and Mr Kipling cakes.
Baked beans
Heinz has hitched up the price of baked beans by 9%, meaning a 150g tin now costs 53p. Rising costs of tomatoes, sugar and navy beans are said to be the cause.
Nescafe coffee
The 100g of Nescafe has gone up from £2.75 to £3.15 – that’s a 14% rise. Pure Life mineral water, also owned by Nestle, has increased by 22%.
Tea
Yorkshire Tea and Tetley are hiking prices for the first time in quite a few years thanks to rising import costs, but it's not been everyone's cup of tea.
Weetabix
Giles Turrell, the chief executive of Weetabix, said the price of the cereal will increase by "low single-digit percentages".
Wheat is a global commodity priced in dollars, so the cost in pounds will have increased since the Brexit vote was announced.
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