Greeks in mass boycott over euro price rises

Greek consumers, tired of being ripped off by price increases since the introduction of the euro, hit back yesterday by boycotting shops in protest.

Sending a message out to price hikers, the majority of stores were empty after consumer protection groups called on the public to abstain from spending a single euro on the market. Reports indicated that business was down by about 70% in shops and supermarkets.

Opinion polls indicated that three quarters of Greeks approved of the boycott, as 70% of consumers said they felt prices of goods and services had risen dramatically.

Prices rose substantially across a range of areas in Ireland during the euro changeover period. Doctors, dentists, chemists, cinemas, restaurants and pubs are all suspected of profiteering on the back of the changeover as prices in all these areas rose unusually sharply.

The cost of living in Ireland is now the second-highest in the euro zone, according to a study commissioned by Forfás, the Government industrial policy agency.

But no action was taken by the Government, despite warnings last year that the consumer would be protected against exaggerated price rises during the euro changeover.

The Greek boycott was also scheduled to extend to public services as the public was urged to switch off electricity and abstain from telephone calls for two minutes at 10pm last night.

Public transport workers joined the protest by giving passengers free rides for one hour beginning at 3pm. Restaurant owners planned to offer their dish of the day at cost price.

Greece’s Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis has complained that retail businesses have fuelled inflation by rounding up prices following the adoption of the euro.

Threatening to name and shame companies accused of overcharging so consumers can know which businesses to boycott, he said such companies will be strictly audited by the taxation authorities.

Greece’s main consumer action group claimed victory in its Don’t Give a Damn boycott, reporting a 67% drop in food sales, a 76% fall in sales at retail shops and 31% fewer people eating at restaurants.

The boycott had the indirect backing of socialist Prime Minister Costas Simitis’s government and was aimed at price gouging linked to the change from the drachma to the euro.

Athens resident Dimitris Xiotis said he was honouring the boycott because prices were now twice and three times higher than usual.

“Money is slipping through our fingers and we don’t know where it is going,” he said.

Boycott organisers reminded people through loud speakers to heed the call and handed out pamphlets explaining the action.