Shoppers pay more in south due to taxes and costs

SHOPPERS are being forced to pay more in the south because of a lack of competition, high taxes and business operating costs.

A report from the Competition Authority (CA) said the Government must reduce the cost of doing business in Ireland, which is 25% higher than in the North, to help Irish suppliers to survive.

The CA notes that grocery prices have dropped 2% between January and May but it said the large numbers of consumers travelling to the North exposed the “fundamental problems of the Irish retail sector”.