The Office of Fair Trading has received ’very few’ complaints regarding prices in the island’s shops since the outbreak of Covid-19.

OFT chairman Martyn Perkins (Garff) was asked by Julie Edge (Onchan) to make a statement on increased pricing during the coronavirus emergency period.

Mr Perkins said: ’While the OFT is aware of debate in the media and the online forums, we’ve received very few complaints in this regard.

’However, we have examined available date on pricing to see if there are systemic problems. The economic affairs division of the Cabinet Office examines the prices of a shopping basket of goods and services on a monthly basis.’

From this, the Cabinet Office produces the monthly inflation report. He said that the OFT has concluded ’in general, prices currently appear to be fair’.