One of the most stirring topics of 2011 was our report on Nike’s plans to increase prices ‘across the board’, measures that were immediately put into place once we welcomed the New Year. Some of Nike’s heritage models like the Air Force 1 and Air Max 95 were bumped up a few bucks, while higher-end shoes like the LeBron 9 raised itself to $170 and eventually $250 with the Elite.
This latest tidbit of information from TSG shows that Jordan Brand will take part in yet another increase, as the upcoming Holiday releases of the Air Jordan IV ‘Bred’ (November/Black Friday) and Air Jordan XI ‘Bred’ (December) will see significant leaps in price. The baseline MSRP of Retro Jordans have reached an astounding $160 already, but the Bred IV will eclipse that mark by $20 to the $180 mark, while the Air Jordan XI ‘Bred’ will occupy the same jump from the $180 MSRP of 2011′s Concords to $200 flat.
Is the slow but steady increase of Nike’s prices on its products just a way to stay consistent with inflation and rising costs of pretty much everything from oil to bubble gum, or is this a way to capitalize on the global popularity of sneakers?
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