Apple today announced changes to its App Store pricing policy in India, Turkey, and the U.K., citing fluctuating foreign exchange rates and taxation changes as reasons behind the move.
In the United Kingdom, Apple is raising the prices for apps and in-app purchases by at least 25 percent, in light of the weak pound exchange rate, which has been down against the dollar by about 19 percent since the Brexit vote.
Apps on sale for $0.99 cents will now cost an equivalent £0.99, rather than £0.79. Apps at price Tier 2 will cost £1.99, up from £1.49, with similar equivalent hikes for higher tiers and in-app purchases. Subscription prices will not be affected.
In India, a service tax of 14 percent as well as levies of 0.5 percent were introduced by the government from December 1, 2016. In Romania, the tax rate has decreased from 20 to 19 percent. In Russia, a value added tax (VAT) rate of 18 percent has been introduced. Apple will submit the collected revenue to authorities on developers' behalf.
Apple's email notification to developers today covered the iOS and Mac App Store, but price increases are likely to come into effect across iTunes purchases like TV shows and movies. In October, Apple hiked Sterling prices across its Mac lineup for similar reasons.
The App Store price increases are set to go live in the next seven days. The announcement comes on the same day U.K. inflation surged to 1.6 percent, an increase put down to rises in air fares and the price of food, as well as prices for motor fuels.
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Top Rated Comments
For those who don't get basic economics, seems to be a pattern emerging here… Currency collapses, prices of imported goods go up.
If you have UK savings they are now worth about 20% less.
So if you had £100,000 you just lost £20,000. Was it worth it? What have you gained? What precisely has changed, other than the prospect of losing the European Medicines Agency, cooperation over Gibraltar and the Falklands, Russian warships cruising the English Channel, a trillion dollars of eurotrading etc etc etc. You'll still need to import labour from overseas unless you want negative GDP. You'll still need to trade with the EU. But wait, here comes a knight in shining armour… it's Donald Trump (and Vladimir Putin) lol, they're going to give the UK "a really great deal", in fact it's "the best deal ever" lol!!
On the other hand of course, if you have net debt, you just gained 20% - so for all those with fixed mortgages, congrats!
#Brexit
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/739158/microsoft-confirms-brexit-price-rises-satya-nadella
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/22/tesla-uk-prices-new-year-currency-brexit-vote
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-airways-apple-prices-rise-9150131
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/lego-to-raise-uk-prices-by-5-per-cent-amid-pound-fears-sparked-by-brexit-a3420286.html
https://www.luxewatches.co.uk/rolex-price-increase-2016/
http://www.econotimes.com/HTC-Vive-UK-Price-Hike-Additional-£70-For-VR-Headset-242777 ('http://www.econotimes.com/HTC-Vive-UK-Price-Hike-Additional-%C2%A370-For-VR-Headset-242777')
tldr: consumers and savers lose, app developers and mortgage holders sort of win