Cnn.com article about inflation and Trump tariff policies

[nerdsforprez]

I don't want this thread to turn political.  I state this upfront.  Pls refrain from any political rhetoric to keep the Moderators at bay.  

But I find it funny that CNN decided to use a pic of LEGO sets in their article on inflation and Trump tariff policies.  

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/12/economy/us-cpi-consumer-inflation-july

It used to be the front page pic on the site.  (cnn.com).  No longer is but it is  used for the page above.  

 

 

[Toastie]

6 hours ago, nerdsforprez said:

But I find it funny that CNN decided to use a pic of LEGO sets in their article on inflation and Trump tariff policies

Oh, well. Tariffs ... no further comment regarding Trump's tariffs. Sometimes, no comment says more than a million rants, though.

On the other hand: Family and I are on vacation in Denmark, on the island Fanø, which is about a ferry ride and 65 km away from Billund. Today we visited Billund (my fifth time) - and I have to say: Looking at the price tags on every LEGO item in their them park super store, it appears as if Denmark has imposed >terrible< tariffs on LEGO goods and TLG has passed them on >>100% to their customers. Wait - did I misunderstood how tariffs work???

Did buy - nothing. No, not true, it was a heavily tariffed minifig on a keychain as a reminder for learning, how tariffs work. Back in the house, I am now studying how billions of DK flow into Denmark. It is - fascinating 

Best
Thorsten

 

[DonQuixote]

Lego uses every excuse the to jack up the price : inflation, tariffs, war Ukraine/Russia.... 

[MAB]

I guess it is because LEGO is easily identified as a toy popular with educated readers, already reasonably expensive and foreign.

[Toastie]

Well, in Billund's LEGO Theme park store they can charge whatever they want: I guess many people, mostly from farther away, want something special or a souvenir/gift from the place where it "all began" ^^ are just cranking out money like crazy. When it gets closer to 5 pm, the store is literally invaded by ready-to-leave folks and families. Rides close at 6 pm, the stores/park at 7 pm. I am usually visiting the store at noon(ish) - not much traffic then, as most people ride or eat ;) This way I can get a good look at all the overpriced sets; there is (and was) never any discount on such things - people pay the Danish LEGO catalogue price without hesitation, as these sets have kissed the shelves of the Holy Place. The same holds true for every piece of Chinese merch, wrapped in a plastic bag with a LEGO sticker or price tag slapped on, or the not so high quality clothing made in India or Bangladesh. It is what it is everywhere, and the best part is: You don't >have< to buy it 

I enjoyed the many new “dioramas” in the Miniland for many hours; Esbjerg, Ribe and other close by Danish/Northern cities/sites were new to me (last visit was 5 years ago with the same gang). They are nicely done, particularly the gardening with real mine-trees and so on. My daughters (age 28 and 29 ^^) were doing the rides ... it is a lot of nostalgia associated with these expensive visits: 55 years ago, my parents took me to Billund for the first (and their last time, it was simply too expensive, even back then) time - in these days we lived about 100 km away form Billund in Northern Germany and 20 km away from Hohenwestedt, where TLG had their main German administration and service center (now Munich, I believe) (https://www.promobricks.de/lego-geschichte-spurensuche-hohenwestedt/)

On a side note: The bricks yellow like crazy - who would have thought that, although some or many have a white paint cover. And: Stickers on vehicles have become and new trend (at least to me). 

Oh well, it was fun. Fun to see the Miniland and the buying frenzy. And many happy people.

All the best
Thorsten