Irish shoppers may follow the Greek example and organise a "buy nothing" day in protest against rising prices since the introduction of the euro.
The idea is being "actively considered", according to the Irish Consumers' Association. "In the past few days we have been inundated with calls and e-mails from consumers offering their support for such a boycott," said association chief executive Dermot Jewell.
"The issue is building up a head of steam, with consumers feeling increasingly powerless over price hikes.
"They want to have some comeback, some way of showing that they won't take it any more."
The Greek boycott of stores and services had been "extremely effective", he claimed, cutting business in shops and supermarkets by some 70%.
Jewell said that a report prepared for government by a state agency, Forfas, found that Ireland was the second most expensive country in the eurozone, after Finland.
Other surveys, he claimed, had shown a 5.5% rise in grocery prices over 12 months.
"We will give the government a few weeks, but if nothing is done, then a boycott will be on the cards," he warned.
It would have to be carefully planned and "targeted at the worst culprits, because the last thing we want to do is damage small businesses unfairly".
There has been no official trade reaction to the threat. However, retailers point to escalating insurance costs, as well as higher wages and fuel bills, as the main reason for the price rises.
Ireland's Consumer Affairs director Carmel Foley pointed out that Ireland now had the highest take-home pay in the eurozone.
{{NEWS }}
The idea is being "actively considered", according to the Irish Consumers' Association. "In the past few days we have been inundated with calls and e-mails from consumers offering their support for such a boycott," said association chief executive Dermot Jewell.
"The issue is building up a head of steam, with consumers feeling increasingly powerless over price hikes.
"They want to have some comeback, some way of showing that they won't take it any more."
The Greek boycott of stores and services had been "extremely effective", he claimed, cutting business in shops and supermarkets by some 70%.
Jewell said that a report prepared for government by a state agency, Forfas, found that Ireland was the second most expensive country in the eurozone, after Finland.
Other surveys, he claimed, had shown a 5.5% rise in grocery prices over 12 months.
"We will give the government a few weeks, but if nothing is done, then a boycott will be on the cards," he warned.
It would have to be carefully planned and "targeted at the worst culprits, because the last thing we want to do is damage small businesses unfairly".
There has been no official trade reaction to the threat. However, retailers point to escalating insurance costs, as well as higher wages and fuel bills, as the main reason for the price rises.
Ireland's Consumer Affairs director Carmel Foley pointed out that Ireland now had the highest take-home pay in the eurozone.
{{NEWS }}
No comments yet