Sir, – Conor Pope (“All over the shop: an A to Z of supermarkets”, August 12th) stated that the National Consumer Agency had ceased conducting its grocery price surveys after “retailers with deep pockets and accomplished legal teams complained the methodology was flawed.”
This is not the case.
The National Consumer Agency first began conducting grocery price surveys in 2007. The surveys had two objectives, first, to highlight price levels and differences, where they occurred, for everyday products across major retailers in Ireland. Second, to empower consumers with information which would enable them to get better value for money. The last survey was published in July, 2011.
Further grocery surveys have not been undertaken to date as it became clear that surveys of this type were no longer necessary – Irish consumers are increasingly aware of the alternatives available to them across different retailers and market segments (branded and own brand). Research published by the National Consumer Agency last week confirmed that 89 per cent of shoppers describe themselves as shopping more wisely. The majority of consumers now state that they shop in less expensive stores and across a number of different stores. Consumers have changed their habits to make the most of their budgets.
The National Consumer Agency is committed to allocating its resources to where there is most need and where we can have the biggest impact for consumers. As a result, in recent years, we have concentrated on improving price transparency for consumers in sectors where access to pricing information is an issue, for example dentists, GPs, pharmacies and solicitors. Results of these price surveys are on our website (www.nca.ie), as is practical information for consumers who need help to get better value in the grocery market. – Yours, etc,
FERGAL O’LEARY,
Director of Research and
Policy,
National Consumer Agency,
Harcourt Road,
Dublin 2.