IRELAND has been labelled the fourth most expensive place to shop in the world and has the dubious honour of being the nation that boasts the most expensive condoms.

A shopping trip to the Big Apple could cut Christmas spending by hundreds of pounds, figures released in the UK today show.

RETAIL IRELAND, the IBEC-affiliated retail sector representative body, has rejected allegations that Ireland is the most expensive Christmas shopping destination in Europe.

A British survey has found that Ireland is the fourth most expensive European country in which to do your pre-Christmas shopping.