Recent spate of shuttlecock price increases in Malaysia

I visited a sports shop I previously frequent in Johor (aka JB) during the June school holidays and must admit I am glad I no longer provide them any business. 

I was truly flabbergasted by the prices for shuttlecocks in that shop.

My original reason for discontinuing the business relationship was because they refuse to provide any discounts, even with my ever increasing purchases and patronage over the years eg from 5 tube per visit to then, 25 tubes per visit. My recent purchases are even more than the past.

For example. I used to buy a certain brand and model of shuttlecock from this particular shop eg brand&model-A. Pricing details as per below.

Brand&Model-A   MYR (aka Malaysian Ringgit)

Early 2014               57

After CNY               59

EOY 2014               61

After CNY               64

Before Jun2015      67

Jun2015                  71     (after introduction of GST)

Reasonable you say?

I would have agreed until  I saw brand&model-B of shuttlecocks for about RM60 in that JB shop. Reason is because I had recently purchased brand&model-B from a different shop for RM60 and brand&model-A for RM68 (AFTER GST implemented). A friend in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur (aka KL) reported the same brand&model-A for RM69 per tube AFTER GST has been implemented. Guess brand&model-A was popular and they decided to be greedy

Needless to day, we should reduce our purchases from such shops. If we do not, they will became bolder and bolder. We, the consumers then bleed

Note - Understand there has been another round of overall price increases after July2015 at all shops. Main reason quoted was the loss of value by the Malaysian Ringgit (again). Can shuttlecock price changes be then use as a rough inflation gauge of the Malaysian economy?