‘Consumers can keep prices down’

CONSUMERS will have to vote with their feet and shop where they get best value if prices are to be kept under control, Consumer Affairs director Carmel Foley stressed yesterday.

Government-enforced prices freezes won’t work, she said, adding that we must have confidence in consumers as individuals to shop where they get value and boycott outlets that are charging excessively high prices.

Ms Foley strongly criticised interest rate charges on credit cards, describing the interest rates as crazy and said Ireland needed 10 more Bank of Scotland type banks to improve competition in this area.