The price cost trend graph of hosiery products from Tirupur cluster reveal a raise on as many as 14 occasions since December 5, 2005. The products supplied from this cluster have cumulatively become costlier by 123 per cent, since the first collective decision of entire hosiery manufacturers to increase the prices in 2005.

Interestingly, prices were scaled down only once between December 5, 2005 and the latest decision taken a few days back by the South India Hosiery Manufacturers Association (SIHMA) to increase costs. The resolution to reduce prices on July 11, 2011, by 5 per cent was made due to a significant reduction in the cotton yarn prices during that period, even though the other costs like transportation and labour charges were going up. Prices increased the maximum number of times in 2010, when Tirupur cluster become dearer on four occasions with prices collectively going up 32 per cent.