The level of commercial transactions taking place in euro in some rural areas may be lower than 20 per cent, an independent retailers' organisation has said.
RGDATA said that despite the high changeover rate being recorded in urban areas, the currency has not been as quick to catch on in rural areas.
It said that by the end of the first week of the euro currency over 90 per cent of transactions in Dublin shops are now being carried out in euro.
However in some rural areas, its members were reporting that less than 20 per cent of consumer transactions were being carried out in the new currency.
RGDATA’s director general, Ms Ailish Forde, said that a survey of members at the end of the first week of the introduction of the currency highlighted a definite urban and rural divide in the use of the euro by consumers.
Ms Forde said the disparity in the use of the currency was most likely caused by the lack of bank services and ATMs in rural areas.
In areas where the use of the euro has been widespread, the introduction of the new money has generally been smooth, she added.
The extensive preparations and training for the euro had certainly achieved results, she said.
