The Wall Street Journal points out that shoe prices are rising quickly:
After a decade of declining prices, footwear makers at all levels are raising prices. The mass-market Payless, a unit of
Collective Brands Inc., recently increased prices on shoes in stores, though it won't say by how much.
Brown Shoe
Co., which makes Via Spiga and Buster Brown footwear and hasn't altered
prices in years, plans an increase of 5% to 12% for fall. And the Nine
West shoe label plans to boost prices on some styles by 15% next year.
The moves reflect higher costs in China, which makes about 85% of shoes
sold in the U.S., as well as higher fuel costs and the weak U.S.
dollar. And they could presage price increases of other goods soon:
Handbags, belts and other leather accessories are made in the same
region in China.
Shoe repair shops may just make a comeback. Will people fix their old shoes rather than buy more expensive new ones?
Maybe journalists should begin asking why a republican state court...
