End of the year sales are still going strong, and in this environment it's difficult to imagine not being able to find an excellent deal on the necessities. But sales end and economic trends change, and sometimes even minor shifts can spell big price hikes.

It's inevitable that as the new year creeps closer, we begin to muse about what's to come in the next 12 months. So dealnews is taking a look at what price adjustments consumers can expect to see in 2012. This week, we read the economic tealeaves to see what will be more expensive in the year 2012. Some increases seem almost customary, like ever-rising gas prices, while others, like a potential 25% hike on tap water, are more surprising.

1. Domestic and International Airfare

Greater demand and fewer available airline seats will likely lead to higher ticket prices for flights next year. American Express predicts prices within North America will increase up to 5% for economy seating, depending on the length of the flight, and up to 7% in business class. Things look more bleak for European travel. A new "green tax" implemented by the EU is aimed at reducing emissions, and it will levy a fee of roughly $15 per passenger, each way, for flights to the U.S. Fees on shorter flights within the EU will be taxed slightly less.

2. New Digital Camera Models

Smartphones have quickly replaced budget friendly point-and-shoot cameras, so manufacturers and retailers are focusing more on higher-end digital SLRs. This year, consumers may have a hard time finding a newly-released digital camera with an inexpensive starting price, as the market is moving towards more feature-rich products. "Lower cost products just won't come to market and those that will be out there, will be priced more and more for profitability," says Stephen Baker, Vice President of Industry Analysis at the NPD Group.

3. Hard Drives

There's been a shortage of hard drives thanks to epic flooding in Thailand in 2011, and some retailers have actually been rationing hard drive–based products. As a result, we've seen fewer hard drive discounts. Expect continued shortages throughout the first quarter of 2012, which is when experts predict that production will begin to catch up to demand.

4. Desktop Computers

The consolidation of desktop features into monitor-integrated units — many with touchscreens — will drive desktop prices up in 2012, according to Baker. Expect average selling prices to increase roughly 30% on new desktops.

5. Food for Home Preparation

If your grocery bill seemed higher in 2011, you weren't imagining things. Most retailers have reported that food prices are rising and those increases are being passed along to shoppers. Food costs rose 6% last year and will likely go up at least 2% more in 2012. Increases are likely to affect food eaten at home, rather than restaurants where those costs are easier to absorb when combined with sales of liquor, says Harry Balzer, Chief Industry Analyst for the NPD Group.

6. Mobile Device Data Plans

Data plans in the past have had a tendency to decline, but as carriers build out 4G services, and move away from unlimited plans, data is set to become more expensive in 2012, according to Ross Rubin, Executive Director of Connected Intelligence at the NPD Group.

7. City-Enforced Fees

As municipalities look for ways to make up for budget shortfalls, fees for everything from dog licenses to vehicle registration and parking rates are going up, as is enforcement of fine-related infractions. In Chicago for example, a non-registered dog can elicit a $500 fine, while parking fines in Portland are going up 18% as the city tries to make up a $16 million transportation budget deficit.

8. Water

Most communities in the United States will face water rate hikes this year, even places that are rich with the natural resource. Water rates in the greater Chicago area will increase by as much as 25% next year, while the parched high desert Denver market is set to rise an additional 5.5%. Like the above-mentioned fees, this increase is mostly a result of cities needing to increase revenue to balance their budgets.

9. Gas

Fuel prices began inching up just before the holidays, and 2012 is looking to be another budget-breaking year at the pump, with prices once again topping $4 per gallon.

10. Gold

The precious metal is poised to achieve its 11th straight year of growth. Gold prices bounced around a lot in the second half of 2011, but analysts expect it to rise roughly 12% in 2012. It's a conservative estimate and a lot lower than the 17% annual growth rate of the past decade, but most believe gold will be more expensive. Take that to the bank.

11. Shipping

Unfortunately for avid online shoppers, the U.S. Postal Service will raise rates by an average of 4.6% next year, while both FedEx and UPS are hiking small package rates by 4.9%. Personal shipping will certainly cost more and it's anybody's guess how long retailers can continue the ubiquitous free shipping offers as rates rise.





Does all this talk about rising prices get you down? Be sure to shop wisely by setting up a dealnews email alert for the specific products and categories that are important to you, so you know immediately when we see a good deal. You can also stay tuned for next week's followup to this piece, which will note the items that will cost less in 2012.





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