High street greed - A time for restraint

THERE are few enough things we can do in the short term to hasten an economic recovery that would return us to the dizzy heights of a few short years ago.

However, one of the things we can do is to use the forthcoming national pay talks to help those most affected by recent inflation. Over the weekend ICTU leader David Begg suggested that these talks should concentrate on improving the lot of the less well off. This is a welcome call as we cannot continue to take so much money out of the economy to pay public service wages. A period of restraint is needed.

Another way to help those most vulnerable would be for high street stores to pass on some of the benefits of weak sterling to their customers. As we report today, some shoppers are paying up to 30% more for clothes because retailers are not passing on sterling savings.

At a time when inflation figures and growth predictions are not what we might wish every little thing helps, and this practice seems excessively greedy. As ever, the most effective vote you have is in your wallet.