Conaty Ltd, an Irish business, sells its products in the UK for €100. UK consumer in January €100 × .80 = £80 UK consumer in December €100 × .90 = £90
Comment
Price has increased and UK consumers will shop elsewhere for a cheaper alternative. Sales will decrease for Conaty Ltd. This could affect Ireland’s balance of trade and balance of payments.
Consumers and the exchange rate
Consumers will act rationally and go for the cheapest price. If goods are cheaper in the UK than in Ireland, Irish people will buy more items from the UK. This will have negative impacts on the Irish economy.
Exchange rates can change, often resulting in prices increasing. If you trade with countries that have the same currency, you don’t have to worry about changing exchange rates. Ireland has the euro as its currency, and when trading with countries from the eurozone, there is no need to worry about currency changes.