ACS

ACS has supported proposals to relax the laws on price marking for the month of January to allow retailers time to implement the VAT increase on the 1st January 2010.

However in their response to a Treasury consultation ACS makes clear that this concession will have limited impact in reducing the overall burden imposed by the change, which is due to come into affect on a bank holiday and one of the busiest trading season of the year.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “This technical concession will provide some flexibility for retailers to continue trading while they change prices on the hundreds of products that are affected in their store. However retailers know that customers won’t accept incorrect pricing for long and so the pressure remains on to make the changeover on or before January 1st 2010.

“The best solution all along was to delay the changeover until after the new year trading period. As the Chancellor prepares his pre-budget there is still chance for him to rectify this glaring mistake.”

ACS submitted its response to the consultation on an amendment to the Price Marking Order on 23rd November.