Border Towns See Retail Shift: No Longer Just About Savings

Cross-border retail in the towns of Newry and Dundalk has transitioned from a volatile "boom and bust" cycle to a more stable environment, according to local business leaders. This shift indicates a new equilibrium in the economic relationship between these two closely situated communities, separated by just 13 miles.

While price disparities on specific goods, such as alcohol and medicines, still draw customers from the south, the overall trend highlights a change in consumer behavior. The expectation of substantial savings is no longer the sole or even primary driver for these shopping trips.

Instead, businesses observe that many cross-border excursions are now undertaken as leisure activities, emphasizing the desire for a day out. This evolution represents a significant departure from past decades when substantial price differences on fuel, alcohol, and groceries fueled high volumes of cross-border commerce.