A grocery shop is costing less in Northern Ireland than Britain, research has found.
The Kantar grocery research found that “figures indicate that in December 2021 the average total grocery price in GB was 8% higher than in NI”.
But the figures appear at odds with the tone of assertions made by Jeffrey Donaldson in which he quoted from the same findings.
The DUP leader correctly stated in a tweet on April 28 that “by end of first year of Protocol in 2021, consumers in NI were paying 4% more per item than in GB; 8% more for dairy products; 19% more for chilled convenience goods”.
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However his pre-election tweet left out the fact the research also found that “the average total grocery price in GB was 8% higher than in NI”.
The Department for Economy, that held the research, said that the term ‘Total Grocery’ “refers to all of the grocery items purchased in a given period, so it will be a combination of all categories”.
Sir Jeffrey’s tweet added: “The protocol is driving up the cost of living.”
It further said that the source of the information was the ‘Kantar GB/NI Average Price Tracker’.
Some sources, however, have warned that it is difficult to extract any definitive data from the research as the NI sample was just 650 homes compared to 30,000 in Britain.
The research was held by DUP Minister Gordon Lyons’ Department for the Economy. In an unusually worded statement released on Friday, the Department said: “Whilst there is nothing to suggest the Kantar GB Panel Average Price Tracker report has been shared with anyone outside of the Department, it is clear that there is significant interest in some of the information contained within that report.”
A spokesman added: “By way of background, the Minister had been provided with information as part of briefing material that indicated the NI average price was 4% higher than in GB in December 2021. Kantar later revised this figure.”
The research came with two tables showing a number of items and comparing GB prices with NI.
The tables “provide the average price per pack for grocery categories for items purchased in the four-week period ending 26 December 2021”, the research says.
Friday’s Department statement added: “The figures indicate that in December 2021 the average total grocery price in GB was 8% higher than in NI. The average price per pack for dairy products in NI was 8% higher than in GB and the average price per pack for chilled convenience goods was 19% higher in NI.”
Belfast Live asked the Department to clarify the difference between the 4% figure and the 8%, but did not receive a response.
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