Since the VAT change....

[Ajthedragon]

They need to increase the Bank Of England interest rates to make our currency worth something and stop this rapid inflation, which isn't great in this combination of addition hikes such as VAT. Personally nothing I buy everyday has gone up substantially. I guess this is what we pay for reckless government spending.

[Chippiewill]

Reducing the VAT hardly helped the general public, hence most world leaders said it was the most stupid decision ever.
All it meant was companies could make more money as most of them did not pass on the savings onto customers - which the government though they would do.

So basically most people paid the same price for things, so it hardly helped the general public.

Whether it was passed onto the public directly is irrelevant, either prices dropped or people's pay increased. Win-Win.

[ka191]

Whether it was passed onto the public directly is irrelevant, either prices dropped or people's pay increased. Win-Win.

Not really. Not many companies increased the pay or dropped their prices as they knew VAT would increase higher than 17.5% in the near future.

[beth]

And as a student, Supernoodles are important. But yeah I think it's rises on little things like this that really add up and make a difference.

as a fellow student, the price increase of super noodles is extremely distressing to me. do we have any idea on the price of the potted noodle?

[LouisCollins]

Well i dont think its to bad tbh, I mean a £400 TV will now cost us £410 So we hardly notice it to be honest unless you're buying a cheap like lets say Milky way,

[Chippiewill]

Not really. Not many companies increased the pay or dropped their prices as they knew VAT would increase higher than 17.5% in the near future.

They have to put the money somewhere and if money is being used to save a company or similar then that's good.

[Monty]

It's disastrous I can't buy anything without getting the extras out any more!

[qaxzsw]

omg a whole 2.5%!!!!

[Sheen]

I hate the VAT increase, I bought a laptop yesterday that I had my eye on for Christmas for £360, I ended up paying £390, including P&P Charges.

[AgnesIO]

omg a whole 2.5%!!!!

Not only do I think this is the post stupid post so far in 2011, I also think you are purposely looking for arguments.

2.5% would seem like nothing, but you already had to pay 17.5%. 20% VAT is ridiculous. It might be needed (thanks to the government getting us in huge amounts of debt), but considering how much people struggle to get by in this god awful country, 2.5% MORE is insane.

Imagine if Habbo started having VAT. It wouldn't cost you 51 credits to get a gold bar. It would cost you 60 credits.