The LEGO Group is raising prices across a broad range of current sets in 2022 – but why is it happening, which sets will be affected, and when will the new prices take effect?
Despite posting record profits in the financial year 2021-22, the LEGO Group announced earlier this year that it’s increasing retail prices on a significant number of its products. That means – like in many other areas of life at the moment – your usual LEGO budget won’t go quite as far as it used to. Here’s everything you need to know about why the price increases are happening, which sets are going up in price, and whether you’ll still be able to score discounts through third-party retailers.
Why is LEGO raising its prices?
With its finger on the global economic pulse, the LEGO Group says it’s being forced to raise prices due to ‘increased raw material and operating costs’.
“Putting consumers first is at the heart of what we do as a company, and for some time, we have absorbed these costs to keep pricing stable,” the LEGO Group said in a statement shared earlier this year. “We will continue to work to ensure our products offer great value and fully recognise how important this is to our fans and everyone who love our products.”
Prices of consumer products are currently spiking worldwide, with inflation rates hitting 8.2% in the UK, 9.1% in the US, 7.5% in Germany and 10% in Spain in the 12 months ending June 2022. Our money is worth less than it once was, buys less than it once did, and LEGO sets seemingly cannot escape that situation.
It’s still worth remembering, though, that the LEGO Group’s profits totalled a staggering £1.5 billion in 2021.
Has LEGO raised its prices before?
The LEGO Group has raised its prices at least once in recent memory, yes. More specifically, it adjusted prices of dozens of products in the UK and Europe in January 2022, supposedly to make RRPs more consistent between different countries. That saw the prices of some sets, like 75192 Millennium Falcon, go up by as much as £50, while others – such as 75252 Imperial Star Destroyer – actually went down by up to £35.
The latest price increases are a little different, though: they’re more aggressive, affect more sets and – most importantly – take place worldwide, rather than only in one region.
How much will LEGO prices increase by?
Price increases will vary by specific set. In the US, they’ve topped out at 25% across products including 21318 Tree House, 76948 T. rex & Atrociraptor Dinosaur Breakout and 21180 The Guardian Battle. In real dollar terms, we’ve seen the biggest increases on sets targeted towards adults – whom the LEGO Group clearly presumes can bear the brunt of the worst price hikes – with 71043 Hogwarts Castle skyrocketing by a massive $70.
A handful of other sets, including 76178 Daily Bugle, 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens and 75313 AT-AT, have all shot up by $50 each. In the UK, those sets have all risen by £35 each, with the most severe increases on this side of the pond affecting sets like 75978 Diagon Alley, 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 and 10273 Haunted House – all of which are now £40 more expensive than they were in August 2022.
When will the LEGO price increases take effect?
The summer 2022 LEGO price increases didn’t take effect simultaneously worldwide. Instead, they came into play at different times in different regions: in the Americas and Asia-Pacific territories, the price increases were implemented on August 1, 2022, and are currently live at LEGO.com and in LEGO Stores. In Europe and the Middle East, prices went up on September 1, 2022.
How many LEGO sets are going up in price?
The LEGO Group says that approximately a quarter of its current portfolio will be affected by the price increases. In the US, a total of 116 sets have seen a bump in price as of August 1, across 20 different themes, while the UK has seen a staggering 141 products climb in price.
Which LEGO themes will have price increases?
The 116 sets that increased in price in the US on August 1 span a collective 20 themes, including: Architecture, Batman/DC, City, Creator 3-in-1, Disney, DOTS, DUPLO, Friends, Harry Potter, ICONS, Ideas, Jurassic World, Marvel, Minecraft, Monkie Kid, NINJAGO, Speed Champions, Star Wars, Super Mario and Technic. The distribution across those themes isn’t equal, though: some have seen just one or two sets increase in price, while others have seen up to 15 sets affected.
In the UK, the 141 sets affected are also spread across a total of 20 themes, with one difference: two LEGO Classic sets have increased in price, but one Architecture set – 21058 Great Pyramid of Giza – has actually decreased in price by £5. We’re chalking that up as a (tiny) victory.
Which LEGO sets are going up in price?
The LEGO Group is understandably not drawing attention to exactly which sets going up in price, but we’ve compiled comprehensive lists of the sets affected across the UK and US. You’ll find those below.
LEGO US price increases 2022
Here’s a complete list of LEGO sets that have increased in price at LEGO.com in the US as of August 1, 2022 – including their previous RRPs, new RRPs, and the increase in both percentage and dollar terms.
LEGO UK price increases 2022
We haven’t escaped the swinging axe of inflation on this side of the pond, either. The LEGO Group’s price hikes came into effect in the UK and Europe on September 1, 2022, following adjustments previously made in January, which saw some sets rise in price by as much as £50 each.
This time round, a total of 141 products have jumped in price, with increases reaching heights of £40 on multiple sets. Check out the full list below.
LEGO EU price increases 2022
For the most part, increases in the EU apply to the same sets as the UK. We’re currently putting together a list of exact price rises, so check back regularly to find out more.
Will LEGO prices increase at all retailers?
The LEGO Group says it’s up to third-party retailers to determine a price for their sets, but if it’s increasing wholesale costs too, it’s likely that retailers will set their prices to match the new RRPs. We’ve already seen that happen in the US through retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, although some in both the US and UK have started selling August’s sets at their original prices.
For now, it seems largely hit and miss, but you should still be able to rely on discounts through third-party retailers – they just might not be as substantial as those we’re used to.
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