Sorry it did come out as a bit of a lesson didnt it?? Ok Value added tax is a bit like US sales tax I guess but it is usually included in the total cost. When I am in the US, I always forget that the tax is added on at the till! Here, it is part of the quoted amount. On utility bills, it is quoted separately as some businesses, charities etc have special arrangements with the INland Revenue (Our IRS). Its known as V.A.T. and is Europe wide but at different amounts in each country. I think that France pays 19% but the basic price, before tax , used to be lower.
I think that the US is catching up with everyone else now so it means that we all feel the pinch! We will have to return to making quilta s our Grandmas did.