Grocery bills could cost a little less this weekend after Northern Ireland’s major supermarkets announced a new round of price cuts on a variety of goods.

Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s last night promised lower prices to outflank their rivals and lure consumers who are struggling to make ends meet during the current economic downturn.

Asda unveiled a range of goods that will be reduced to 50p this weekend — including two pints of milk, butter, eggs, mince and sausages.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s, meanwhile, said they would be offering their own reductions on selected products in stores across the province.

The move comes just two days after Ulster’s leading retail expert, Donald McFetridge, hit out at the ‘big three’ players in the local market. He told the Belfast Telegraph he believed supermarkets here weren’t doing enough in the wake of the credit crunch. Asda’s latest price reductions, which run from tomorrow to Sunday, represent the third promotional cut of a similar nature since the end of June this year.

Asda trading director Darren Blackhurst said: “Customers are telling us this is the time of the month they’re really starting to feel the pinch and that’s why we’re investing in price cuts where they really count, on everyday essentials like milk, bread and butter, meat and vegetables.”

Tesco has also cut the cost of 18,000 products in its biggest weekly promotion yet. The retailer said it was reducing the price of a range of everyday goods that would be on promotion, from bread, sausages and pizzas to school uniforms and homeware.

Tesco commercial director Richard Brasher said the price cuts were being implemented to help customers.

He said: “Despite clear inflation in some food products we have worked hard to cut our prices.”

A spokeswoman for Sainbury’s last night said: “We have a significant number of promotions at the moment to help customers, which are across the store.”