The toy industry sure isn't helping itself with some of the news stories that have taken place lately. Aside from the lead paint issues with Chinese factories, it's now reported that toys will cost more next year due to added safety measures – in addition to the usual markup from year to year.

Right now, analysts expect a 10 percent jump in retail prices after the holiday season. This is more than twice the government's measure of consumer inflation of 4.7 percent during the first seven months of this year.

If this is all in the name of safety, you really can't argue with the price hikes. Should these measures to ensure low levels of lead been taken of well beforehand? Of course. But it is what it is, and now we'll all be paying more. If you want a good grasp about why this lead fiasco started in the first place, Merry Dudley, editor of our sister publication Toy Cars & Models, has written a great editorial in the upcoming November 2007 edition. I'll get her to post it online so I can provide a link because I think she raises some good points.

And the holiday are fast approaching. There are some really cool toys already making a push to throw Elmo off the top of the list this year. We'll have our annual Christmas preview online in the coming weeks. I'll let you know when it's live.