A REPORT on cross-Border price differentials has been ordered by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan.
The Minister said yesterday that she had asked the national policy and advisory board, Forfás, to assess the relative cost of doing business in both jurisdictions and give her their findings next month.
"While retailers have said that the cost of doing business in the Republic is greater, and that this accounts for the price differential, given the appreciation of the euro against sterling over the past year, I have asked for the report," Ms Coughlan added.
Consumers, she said, had suffered significant increases in prices of a range of essential goods over the past year, most notably in their weekly grocery shopping.
"While global factors have played a significant element in this price rise, we are determined in Government to ensure that Irish consumers are getting a fair deal at home."
Ms Coughlan was speaking at the Dublin offices of the National Consumer Agency following discussions with officials.
She said multiple retailers had a duty to their customers to explain why such a large price differential remained for the same goods between North and South. While she welcomed recent price offers by some of Ireland's major multiple retailers, following her meeting with them in June, competition between them remained too low, particularly on like-for-like and branded products.
Consumers were becoming aware of the benefits of shopping around and splitting their shopping between retailers. "This change in consumer behaviour is starting to effect enhanced competition between retailers," she added. "All of this is welcome progress, but it is clear that we still have some way to go."
In Business This Week: Prices and inflation rate both fall in July and Inflation watching is all about numbers. Click in related links (right) for more
