War of words over retail sector competitiveness

THE Competition Authority clashed with retailers yesterday over the best way to bring down consumer prices, as Ireland looks set to become the most expensive state in the eurozone.

Competition Authority chairman John Fingleton said he favoured lifting the ban on below-cost selling and bringing in larger stores in order to give consumers the option of lower prices.

But the small retailers and grocers umbrella group RGDATA opposes the moves, claiming that the experience in other countries has shown that hypermarkets do not bring prices down in the long term.