The study, Comparative Consumer Prices in the Eurozone & Consumer Price Inflation in the Changeover Period, was commissioned by Forfás, at the request of the former Minister of Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt. It was prompted by a significant growth in consumer complaints, particularly price rises on goods and services around the time of the euro changeover.
Increases in the cost of so-called non-traded services such as doctors' and dentists' fees and in the cost of services as diverse as hairdressing and plumbing were most contentious. It was claimed suppliers were using the changeover to make a killing. There was also pressure from the Consumers' Association of Ireland which confirmed and added to the growing media concern that consumers were "being ripped off".
In response, the Minister called on Forfás, the national policy and advisory board for enterprise and trade, to study pricing changes to determine trends, rather than rely on anecdotal evidence. The research approach relied entirely on secondary sources. It would not have been feasible to undertake a eurozone review based on primary source research on cost and logistical grounds.