Ka, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo hit by 3.75 per cent price increase

Ford has announced across-the-board price rises that will increase the cost of some of Britain's best-selling cars by 3.75 per cent. From 1 April, the cost of a Ka will rise by an average of £50, while the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet will be £1,000 more expensive - a move predicted by Parkers earlier in March.

It's the second rise by the firm in eight weeks and means that Ford prices have increased by an average 8.5 per cent since the start of 2009. With VAT set to return to 17.5 per cent by the end of the year, many Ford models could be more than 10 per cent more expensive this December than they were at the end of 2008. That would mean a rise of nearly £1500 on a mid-spec Focus 1.6-litre Style.

The price increase comes just a day after 23 March - highlighted by Parkers as the best day to buy a car in 2009. Part of the research behind the finding showed that new car prices would rise in coming months; used car prices have slowly been rising since the start of the year.

Although there are still plenty of deals to be had as manufacturers try to shift existing stocks, prices will rise throughout 2009 with import costs and, with fewer cars being produced, need to charge more for each car they build. Ford's increase is likely to be followed by other car makers - SEAT has told Parkers that it will also raise prices by 3.5 per cent from 1 April, while Peugeot has announced that it will re-visit its prices before the Summer.