‘Retailers must press suppliers to cut costs’

PRICES differences between the North and the south could come to an end if retailers put pressure on suppliers to cut costs.

The Competition Authority said that for grocery and clothes prices to come down in Ireland, suppliers must be prepared to offer better deals to retailers and those who do not will be “bypassed in favour of suppliers who will”.

It accused some retailers who have made savings of not passing them on to consumers because of a lack of competition in Ireland. It said retailers that face a low level of competition are under less pressure to pass on savings to consumers.