GALWAY shoppers are paying up to 60% more for cosmetics and over 40% for clothes than they should be as UK-owned retailers are failing to pass on the massive savings due to the weak sterling.

Major multi-nationals such as Marks & Spencers and Monsoon used to display the euro and sterling prices on clothing in their shops in Ireland but have now adopted a policy of covering up or blacking out the sterling price to keep shoppers in the dark.

However an investigation by the Connacht Tribune has found that despite the prolonged slump by the pound sterling against the euro, the multi-nationals are stubbornly refusing to alter their prices to reflect this.

The Galway Chamber of Commerce has called on the UK retailers to apply fair conversion rates or risk local jobs. CEO Michael Coyle said excuses given up to now that the multiples had to cover the
high minimum wages and rates no longer washed given the scale of the price differentials in the face of a strong euro for the last six months.

Meanwhile shoppers are continuing their exodus North,with one local bus company now laying on a regular service to Enniskillen from Galway. That trend is only...