Virginia retailers warn of higher cotton prices

Virginia store owners say dwindling cotton supplies are driving up prices for items such as jeans, khaki pants, shirts and dresses.

Cotton supplies are down due to growing demand in developing countries and recent crop damage from bad weather in China.

Winter Hodges is owner of a boutique in downtown Roanoke. He tells The Roanoke Times that every manufacturer he deals with has advised him of price increases on products made from cotton.

Hodges says he expects an additional 10 percent price increase on new denim orders, adding to the 10 percent increases made by manufacturers earlier this year.

(Source: http://hamptonroads.com/node/593248)