Metrication will make our market more transparent.
If you'd shop on the Continent, you'd be amazed at how much more goods cost in the UK when compared to other European countries. The reason for that is simple: goods in the UK are more expensive because we insist on having two different measuring units. The issue of the world perceiving the UK as old when it comes to business and lifestyle will only get worse if problems like this one aren't solved.

"The issue of the world perceiving the UK as old when it comes to business and lifestyle will only get worse if problems like this one aren't solved"

I take it that's why Britain is seen as the banking capital of the world then?

I take it that's the reason why Britain is in the top 4 economies of the world then?

I take it that's why Britain is a main player at the G8 table?

I take it that's why Britain was one of the first countries to introduce digital TV then?

I take it that's why Concord is still the technologically most advance passenger plane then?

(Pick and choose the ones you like, if you wish....)

Steveh,
what you wrote has nothing to do with what I wrote. All I'm saying is that goods in the UK are more expensive than on the Continent, and that's a FACT.

And yes, you're right, the UK is one of the main players at the G8 table and our economy is one of the best in the world.
But this doesn't alter the fact
- that the UK is more expensive than the Continent and
- that Britain's relatively high prices are partly caused by us having two different measuring systems.
And that's also a FACT.

Some goods are more expensive in the UK than in some continental countries. Others are cheaper. The exact ratios go up and down as the exchange rates change. Last time I was in Germany, for example, I noticed that the general price level there was much higher than in the UK. But Amazon sells books more cheaply on its German website than its British or American ones - heaven knows why, since they're the same books from the same source paid for through the same VISA system. However, one thing we can be quite certain of - continuing price differences have nothing to do with weights and measures. The cost of printing two numbers on a label instead of one is negligible.

Thanx Paul, you covered everything there I think.

Last time I was in Ireland I noticed that generally prices were higher, but there again once you "translated" the price back into real money you lost interest in the accuracy - good if your a shareowner!

{But Amazon sells books more cheaply on its German website than its British or American ones - heaven knows why, since they're the same books from the same source paid for through the same VISA system.}

That's so the books look cheaper before the government slaps on the 25% tax!

Not sure I understand you there. Are you saying that books sold in Germany attract VAT at a 25% rate? There's no VAT on books here. And in the US sales tax only in California, is it?

{Not sure I understand you there. Are you saying that books sold in Germany attract VAT at a 25% rate? There's no VAT on books here.}

I could have sworn that anything bought online could be charged a 25% sales tax in Europe, including books. I'll have to check my sources.

{And in the US sales tax only in California, is it?}

Every state has a sales tax. It's just much, much lower than Europe.

The lower tax rate over here is actually a source of conflict with the E.U. Something about capital flowing out of Europe and into the States.

There's no VAT on books in the UK - I don't know about the rest of the EU. I can buy books online from Germany without paying VAT, but whether Germans can I'm not sure. As for the US, I'm sure I've seen things like "California residents add 1 1/4 % sales tax" (it may not be California, and it may not be 1 1/4 % - and it may not be for every product - but I've definitely seen something along those lines).

^I've checked, and it appears California does charge a sales tax on online purchases. Most states haven't started that yet, which is why I've never heard of it.

"There is no VAT on books in the UK"

Correct, we don't pay tax on books, newspapers or childrens clothes.

However the EU does not like this.....


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