THE cost of hiring a car or van for a week in the UK, France, Germany and America is to be included in an investigation on international price differences being carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry. Prices of about 100 products, ranging from a loaf of bread to a cooker, will be checked in the four countries and the results of the survey will be published in January.

Trade and Industry Secretary, Stephen Byers, said: 'If the results show that British consumers are paying more for goods than consumers elsewhere, we will need to identify the reasons why. I have the power to direct the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate certain prices and will not hesitate to take the action necessary to secure a fair deal for the British consumer.'