The Air in the UK is £1,249, up from £999 - a 25% increase.
The EU price is €1,500, up from €1,050 - a 43% increase.
At least some of that has to be explained by the euro dropping ~14% against the dollar. Take away 14% from the EU price and you get €1,290 - pretty close to the UK price.
You are comparing 2 different products' prices.
The M2 Air is up £49 compared to its US counterpart. A ~5% increase. And its up €200 compared to its US counterpart. An ~18% increase.
Exchange rates explain this easily.
> The EU price is €1,500, up from €1,050 - a 43% increase.
where did you get these prices?
From Apple store Italy
M1
8 core CPU
7 Core GPU
8GB RAM
€ 1.229,00
---
M2
8 core CPU
8 Core GPU
8GB RAM
€ 1.529,00
The parsimonious explanation is that the Euro went from 120¢ to 98¢ in the intervening time. I have no opinion on why that happened, I will pretend I don't even know what the ECB is.
I'm never going to buy an Apple M* at actual price points.
I was merely pointing out that ECB has nothing to do with the prices of Apple products, compared to equivalent in the US.
Apple raised the prices outside the USA and kept the same prices in the US.
That's all.
So, you are right. Apple raised prices. I suspect exchange rates. It is easier to account for unfavorable exchange rates in new products than in raising prices of existing products.
The same difference exists in European Apple stores (~+25%).
They simply kept lower prices in US in my opinion, but obviously comparing US prices with non-US prices for a US manufacturer it's not going to work in favor of the non-US market.
a strong Euro doesn't automatically makes for a stronger EU economy.
the stream of anti ECB drones is frankly ridiculous
the price has gone up in pounds as well.
Does the ECB controls them too?
Prices in Europe are taxes included, in US are before taxes.
In Europe you have to add VAT, not only sales taxes, which are much lower in US anyway.
Last but not least, custom duties are a thing.