Tesco throws first punch in price war

SHOPPERS have been urged to force supermarkets into an all-out price war as the rising cost of living begins to bite hard into household budgets.

Consumer champion Eddie Hobbs wants hard-pressed households to wield their spending power and force shops to compete for custom by cutting prices.

His comments came after Ireland’s biggest food retailer, Tesco, announced price cuts on 5,000 products and pledged reductions on 5,000 more. Rival Dunnes Stores yesterday remained tight-lipped on whether it would respond.