The Euro, A Success

Well from the point of the Eurosceptic it is.

More than 90 per cent of consumers in countries that use the European single currency believe the advent of the euro has sent prices soaring, leading Brussels officials admitted yesterday.

That’s a number that not even Eurobarometer could spin in a positive way. (1 in ten Europeans happy that the Euro has not lead to inflation????) Its not their fault however:

Officials pinned most blame on Europe's small businessmen, from barbers to newsagents, cafes or dry cleaning stores. They said many had taken advantage of the euro's arrival to impose "unjustified price increases"

Try imposing unjustified increases in a competitive market and see how long you stay in business. If the claim is true, then it just illustrates the lack of competition in all areas of the EU economy.