Why are things always more expensive in the UK?

I read an article today that says that although Sony are dropping the price of the already cheaper Playstation 3 games console in the US they aren't lowering the price in Europe. Whilst I'm not interested in buying one for myself I'm sure my sone will want one of these things or the modern day equivalent in the not too distant future. The point is the same applies to pretty much everything, for example it is well known that clothing from Gap is half price. Now I appreciate that things like exchange rates, size of the market etc all play a part but Europe as a whole must be an equivalent consumer market. It just feels like we constantly are expected to pay more and I hope that as more people shop and research online a fairer global market develops. No more rip off Britain!!!! There that feels better, now I must go and buy some new jeans at a ridiculously inflated price.