Households to save up to €1,000 a year on shopping

IRISH households will potentially save up to €1,000 each year from today’s Cabinet decision adopting Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin’s forthright recommendation to abolish the Groceries Order which bans below-cost selling.

While the Competition Authority (CA) has estimated the average family will save €481 per year if the order is dropped, consumer champion Eddie Hobbs last night said it could work out at "closer to a grand a year" in savings on groceries for many families.

Pointing out that the CA tends to err on the side of caution, Mr Hobbs whose Rip Off Republic TV series galvanised public opposition to the Groceries Order said there would be a potential 20% saving on the price of three-quarters of all goods currently covered by the order