Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

Good that everyone is allowed to decide that for themselves ;)

Can someone confirm that manufacturers usually announce their price increases at the turn of the year? The question is always what you can believe from a seller and where they're bluffing a bit :D

For us, the increase started in May, so that's when we placed the order. Now we just have to take delivery in October and store them temporarily in the garden shed.

Good that everyone is allowed to decide for themselves ;)

Absolutely, but then don't complain if it just costs more.

Our Nobilia country house kitchen (York or something like that was the front, if I remember correctly) with an L (approx. 7m) and "peninsula" including all appliances from Neff (also extractor in the cooktop) cost just under 15k back then. That was in 2019.

I think the price for has not been finally negotiated yet. There's definitely another 3k - 5k € left in it. The same old game ... the customer doesn't know where the seller's red line is, and the seller doesn't know where it is for the customer. I would start to approach it slowly.

I would never want to put a "lower mid-range car" in my kitchen.

But a "good kitchen" in the garage? Why? It comes down to personal preferences. I cook almost daily, gladly and with pleasure. I only drive a car as often as necessary, because sometimes I just have to. A joyless act of necessary mobility.