Even as the golf season gets underway it seems that both sides of the pond are involved in a battle for the consumer, even on new products. As new stock hits more retailers’ shelves, then the early stockers are forced to reduce prices to compete and that seems to be the pattern, certainly in the UK.
UK prices in March fell by 3.5% overall, according to the latest figures from the Golfalot Price Index (GPI). The main culprit was the irons sector which fell by over 7%. Other big fallers were drivers (-2.3%), utilities (-2.5%), wedges (-3.7%), putters (-2.8%) balls (-2.7%) and shoes (-3.5%).
In the USA the Golfalot Price Index dipped below its starting level again finishing 0.5% down on last month and since the USA Index started a year ago. Trolleys were the biggest faller at -4.3%, with the other main fallers being wedges (-2.2%), bags (-1.2%) and drivers (-1.1%). Balancing these out were utilities at +2.4% and fairways at +0.9%. Could this mean better times ahead in the UK for these sectors? We will have to wait until next month to find out. Certainly the USA v UK graph for 2007 at www.golfalot.com/priceindex shows a 1% divergence between the two markets already this year.
The Golfalot Price Index allows the golf industry to compare price trends both within the UK and USA and between both countries. The Indices operate in the same way by tracking the prices of the latest models from each manufacturer are chosen as they reach the market. Therefore the models tracked always reflect pricing on what the serious golfer wants – the latest technology. Prices are taken from Golfalot.com’s market leading golf equipment price comparison service in the UK and USA.
For more detailed information view the Golfalot Price Index graphs for the UK & USA online at www.golfalot.com/priceindex
Contact:
Martin Hopley
Tel: +44 (0) 131 453 1990
www.Golfalot.com
