Power Tools price increase in 2009

Almost all power tools manufacturers are having some large price increases in 2009. This is partly due to the Pound being so weak compared with other currencies such as the Euro and US Dollar, but also because of the increase costs of raw materials.
Some manufacturers are increasing prices as much as 20% but in the main around 5 - 10%.
In this difficult climent the UK faces can the UK workforce afford to pay for these increases? lets hope so but 2009 will certainly be a testing year for the UK economy but especially the contruction industry.