Euro rip-off expected to push up inflation

Inflation figures for the first two months of this year are expected to show that businesses and retailers have significantly increased prices to coincide with the euro changeover.

According to a Sunday newspaper, a survey by the Consumers Association of Ireland shows that prices have risen by as much as 15% since the single currency was launched on January 1st.

The association was prompted to conduct the research following growing public unease about the rising price of food and other goods and services.

Medical costs, in particular, have rocketed, but there were also significant increases in the price of alcohol, soft drinks, clothing and footwear. The cost of going to the cinema or a nightclub was also hiked up.