The Golfalot Price Index in the UK rose this month by 1.1% due to big rises in Irons (+4%), Bags (+2.3%), Drivers (+2.2%) and Putters (+2.1 %). The new Titleist range of irons drove up Irons, while Bags increased as a few of the cheaper bags on offer dropped out. Drivers experienced a small increase across all ranges and Putters rose following the introduction of the new Ping i-Series and Scotty Cameron Studio Select ranges.
On the downside, despite a few new expensive products coming into the market from Hill Billy and Hillman, Trolleys fell by -2.7% as some of the Powakaddy range came out of the index. Fairway Woods (-1.8%) and Shoes (-1.3%) also fell this month with small changes throughout each category.
The opposite was the case in the USA as the Golfalot Price Index fell by 0.26%. The biggest mover out of all the categories was Fairway Woods which fell by 2.9% due to the expensive Ping Rapture dropping out and the cheaper Golden Bear Mega SQ coming in. Wedges (-1.5%) and Putters (-1.4%) also fell with a few small changes across each section.
On the up in the US were Irons by +1.4% helped in part by new Bridgestone J36 sets coming in. This was the same case in the Utility Clubs (+0.6%) as a new Bridgestone J36 Hybrid has its first outing. Bags were the only other category to increase, but by only +0.2% with a couple of minor price changes throughout.
So far this year it seems that prices are on the increase with both the UK and USA up over the last 12 months by between a half and one percent. However this is the second month in a row that the USA has fallen, so it will be interesting to see if the recent macro-economic problems are starting to affect the golf industry in that country.
In the UK, the golf season has got into full swing and with shops now full of all the latest models and the economy tightening, the pressure on prices could be more down than up. Watch this space!
For more detailed information view the Golfalot Price Index graphs for the UK & USA online at www.golfalot.com/priceindex