Letter: The price of books

Sir: In answer to the question raised by T. A. Maher (letter, 6 August), the reason that the price of a book in the US is often half that of its British equivalent is that the price of almost all goods in the US are half that of their British equivalents. So one cannot single out books.

While I'm writing, can anyone tell me why newspapers and magazines are always sold at their cover prices?

Yours faithfully,

LUCINDA ELLIS

Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

7 August