LEGO fans' response to financial results is unanimous

The LEGO Group is 'satisfied' with its financial performance, but its customers are all sharing the same piece of advice for the company.

In its financial results for the last fiscal year, the LEGO Group shared a drop in growth and slower profits in the first half of this year. While the company is reportedly still happy with its progress, Brick Fanatics readers were also keen to share their opinions on the financial side of LEGO over on this Facebook post – and the verdict is pretty unanimous.

After all, it's not only companies that are feeling the hurt of the narrow miss of a recession in the UK and cost of living crises in a number of countries in Europe and around the world. Indeed, the Financial Times reported only last week that consumer confidence (and subsequent potential spending) is just starting to recover. With LEGO products not considered a necessity (by most, at least), it's perhaps no surprise that growth has slowed, with fewer people willing to buy high-end sets nowadays. That's why the number one plea from LEGO customers appears to be unified: lower prices.

"[As] a single dad with a mortgage and [cost] of living pressures, it's hard to justify buying LEGO as a luxury item for myself," wrote one user. "The prices are out of control."

"I have to pass on sets I want, simply because I can’t afford them all," wrote another. "[It] doesn’t help that they keep making tons of sets I want! It’s getting quite expensive for sure."

It's this sheer volume that seems to be overwhelming buyers. In the first eight months of 2023 we've had so far, the LEGO Group has released or plans to release 31 sets priced at £149.99 or more. In 2022, the entire year saw just 29 and 2021 saw 32 across 12 months. The rate of higher-priced sets does appear to be increasing and, at least for adult fans of LEGO, it's no longer achievable to add every LEGO set you want to your collection.

With growth stagnating, another commenter wrote: "They wanted to see how far they could push it, and now they’ve found out." After all, profits are still strong for the LEGO Group but the rate of growth is declining. Perhaps the company has simply hit its consumer ceiling and shoppers are tapped out when it comes to spending.

On the plus side, the LEGO Group may already be listening to concerns. The LEGO Ideas theme has seen a recent shift towards sets priced under £100, such as 21342 The Insect Collection and 21340 Tales of the Space Age, following the much more expensive 21338 A-Frame Cabin and 21341 Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters' Cottage. It remains to be seen if wider price variations continue in this theme and across other themes but, judging from the comments from Brick Fanatics readers, something has got to give.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by buying your LEGO sets using our affiliate links. Thank you!