Retailers said John Healey was wrong to point the finger at businesses after he vowed to combat "price-gouging" and monitor signs of shoppers being ripped off. The clash comes less than three months before Mr Healey delivers his first Budget. Mr Healey had singled out the supermarket sector over the weekend, echoing criticism made by his predecessor, Rachel Reeves, after the Iran war broke out in February. "The Government's independent competition regulator, the CMA [Competition and Markets Authority], has repeatedly found that fierce competition between retailers, not government action, has kept food prices as low as possible." As John Healey explores his new residence, he needs to look a bit closer to home to lower the cost of living.