I must be getting old or inflation must be getting bad. Every time I end up at the store, I see things that cost way more than they should. Today at Target, I noticed they were selling Christmas stockings for $12.99. Thin, felt-like polyester Christmas stockings for $12.99. It struck me as seriously overpriced. Everywhere I looked I saw total junk going for way more than I would expect. Holiday goods are probably a special case because during the holidays consumers have a heightened emotional state when shopping. They’re excited about the holidays and everything that comes with it, so they’re more likely to buy stuff they might never buy otherwise.
Prepare for some rapid deflation come December 26th when you’ll be able to pick up those same stockings for $1.99!
It’s a marvel of the capitalist system that seasonality results in such wide pricing disparities and disparate consumer behavior. People flee from holiday items after Christmas as if trying to soothe a bad hangover.