FX.co ★ British retailer chains to raise prices in independent Scotland

Should Scotland vote for independence next year, some of the UK's biggest supermarkets may raise their prices. According to The Financial Times, citing anonymous source, the cost of doing business in Scotland is higher than in the rest of the UK, but now the supermarkets are leveling off prices in different regions of Great Britain.
Representatives of the largest supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Wm Morrison, and J Sainsbury) explained that transport services in Scotland are more expensive. In addition, the retail chains have to get over the loss of profit due to more stringent rules for sale of alcohol and cigarettes than in the rest of the UK. The supermarkets fear that regulations in an independent Scotland will be tightened, and it will make the difference between doing business in this country and Great Britain even more pronounced.
Head of Asda Andy Clarke has added that in case of Scotland’s separation from the UK, the former will become less attractive place to invest.
At the same time, the Scottish government stated that supermarkets have no reason to increase costs as an independent Scotland would reduce corporate and fuel taxes, which would make the local economy more competitive.
First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond strongly supports the idea of Scottish independence. In late November, he launched the White Paper, a plan for the development of an independent country. In particular, it says over the past decades Scotland could accumulate substantial — up to GBP116 billion — reserves from oil production without Great Britain.
The referendum on the separation of Scotland is to be held in September 2014.