Britons sprucing up their gardens during lockdowns have been hit with eye-watering price hikes, with some sheds more than doubling in price since the summer before the pandemic, new research reveals. 
Major retailers are now charging consumers hundreds - and sometimes thousands - of pounds more for some popular outdoor items, with sheds, chairs, tables and other garden furniture all seeing steep increases.  
The pandemic has fuelled a big surge in demand for these items, as people spent more time socialising in their gardens, but many struggled to get their hands on their favourite items or faced delivery delays of multiple months since the first lockdown.




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This shed sold by Homebase cost _695 in 2019, but it's now selling for _1,210

In terms of tables and chairs, the Denia Wooden 6-Seater Dining Set, available from B&Q, was priced at _247 in July 2019, but by July this year it cost _369, which marked a 49 per cent increase.  
As at the end of August, the price on the B&Q website had dropped again to _309. 
Another price rise Which?

found was on the Forest Garden Lyon Arbour from Screwfix and Toolstation.
Toolstation sold it for _179.99 in July last year, but last month it cost _261.98 - and as of the 28 August, the price seems to have risen further to _339.98.
The same item was generally more expensive through Screwfix, where it went from _219.99 to _341.99 in July this year.





B&Q and Homebase both blamed increased shipping costs for price rises

B&Q and Homebase both mentioned increased shipping costs as a contributing factor.

This lines up with Which?'s reporting from April, which found that the industry was blaming rising shipping costs for outdoor furniture shortages. 
B&Q also mentioned supply chain price inflation, while Homebase referenced a shortage of supplies.
All three retailers said they were working with suppliers to minimise price increases.
Amazon pointed out that some of its prices were set by third-party retailers, and said it had policies to help them price products competitively. It said its own prices fluctuate regularly for many reasons including stock levels and competitors changing prices.







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