Food Prices and Essentials remain high

[eskerman]

I just thought it prudent to open a thread about food and essential items prices. We are seeing lots and lots of sales in all the high-street shops, many are sadly closing down sales as our economy slides further into recession.

The most important everyday items of food and other essentials remain at the same level as they were during the highs of the so-called celtic tiger. is this the vested interests at play and are we seeing a government that remains powerless to legislate on this food sector. On top of that I dont see the price of a doctors visit dropping nor do I see the costs of a packet of solphadine dropping at the local pharmacy....

Government overheads must be culled...fast, strip out all dead wood in all dept's we must start to see value for money is all sectors if we are to accept draconian fiscal policy....this is the nub of getting the people to go with hard choices...this together with finding ways to stimulate jobs are crucial, sadly I now fear the worst, as politicians seem to be caught in the headlights far too long, despite the many months of bells ringing, we seem to be stuck in neutral

[jpc]

Producer prices are pretty cack.
And unlikely to improve.

[TradCat]

The supermarkets appear to compete on drink prices and little else. They are probably keeping food prices high to subsidize the beer and wine deals. Clearly they know their market.

If we were able to think as well as we can whinge we would stop buying alcohol in supermarkets as a protest against high food prices. that would solve the problem in a week.

[Aindriu]

Tesco & Dunnes are doing a lot more offers than before. 2 for 1, 3 for 2 etc.

As for medicines, we need far more generic brands available here as in the UK. Why pay inflated prices for brand names when there are perfectly suitable generic ones? In the UK doctors MUST prescribe generic drugs. Here the opposite is true!

[atlantic]

Have a look around at the carparks of Tesco,lidl,aldi full half the day,food is now the first priority for people and these businesses know it.

[eskerman]

The supermarkets appear to compete on drink prices and little else. They are probably keeping food prices high to subsidize the beer and wine deals. Clearly they know their market.

If we were able to think as well as we can whinge we would stop buying alcohol in supermarkets as a protest against high food prices. that would solve the problem in a week.

Clearly there are commercial politics at play here, but whilst everybody is worried about jobs and money...and I imagine food on the table stuff, the price of drink in supermarkets will pass them by. I think we will start to see a lot of public outcry soon as our economy deepens and food on the table becomes more focused, sadly it seems to take massive amounts of frustration and taking to the streets before any government will take any action.

Not only will major increases in taxes be necessary, but we need much more efficient output from all public sectors..we need a massive injection of reality in many of these public bodies, I do accept there are many responsible people in these jobs for life public services, but they DONT live in the real world, they cant, its indemic in that sector...born into it, rules that are institutional..lack of management and leadership..that whole sector seems to be a mess..

Sorry I have gone off the subject matter, but its all linked to management and overheads..the government should be run like a business..not a dictatorship, clearly our democracy is under some pressure now..and splits in many sectors of society must be avoided at all costs..

[Twin Towers]

Have a look around at the carparks of Tesco,lidl,aldi full half the day,food is now the first priority for people and these businesses know it.

Grocery shopping at Lidl and Aldi is a form of protest in itself.

[eskerman]

Tesco & Dunnes are doing a lot more offers than before. 2 for 1, 3 for 2 etc.

As for medicines, we need far more generic brands available here as in the UK. Why pay inflated prices for brand names when there are perfectly suitable generic ones? In the UK doctors MUST prescribe generic drugs. Here the opposite is true!

Good point about the generic medicines...I have a perfect example sitting in front of me..

Solphadine (soluble pack of 24) 6.45 euro's
Co-Codamol (same tablet as recommended by UK Pharm) £2.93 stg

The whole country is soaked in this profiteering..all fine in the good old days...(well we though they were the good old days) but now that we are facing survival for basics...as the dole ques stretch more and more (1000/day) I think food and essentials are going to be serious reasons for public outcry and possible dissorder...watch that space

[Munion]

Buy your meat & veg from your local butcher and greengrocer. They're always significantly cheaper than the supermarket. Then just buy your non-perishables from LIDL or ALDI. I haven't set foot inside a Tesco's in well over a year.

The funny thing is however, when compared to ALDI & LIDL across Europe their stores in Ireland are a rip off! Was an article in the Irish Times this week

So how low do they really go? - The Irish Times - Mon, Mar 02, 2009

[politicaldonations]

Good point about the generic medicines...I have a perfect example sitting in front of me..

Solphadine (soluble pack of 24) 6.45 euro's
Co-Codamol (same tablet as recommended by UK Pharm) £2.93 stg

The whole country is soaked in this profiteering..all fine in the good old days...(well we though they were the good old days) but now that we are facing survival for basics...as the dole ques stretch more and more (1000/day) I think food and essentials are going to be serious reasons for public outcry and possible dissorder...watch that space

I order all my medicines for the year from this site
Chemist Direct UK's Online Pharmacy, Discounted Medicines/Tablets/Prescriptions, Perfumes/Fragrances, Beauty &, Electrical Products & Gifts - Buy Online
They are a uk discount pharmacy. Lots of people on boards.ie have ordered from them and are very happy. I get 32 500mg paracetamol for around 30pence! would cost around 3 euro in Ireland.
Co-Codamol 8/500mg Tablets - Medicines - £0.49 - Chemist Direct