The Competition Commission is considering whether to allow the reintroduction of recommended retail prices (RRPs) on electrical goods.

RRPs on electricals were banned in 1998 but changes in the market in the meantime have prompted the Office of Fair Trading to recommend the rule is abandoned, the Daily Telegraph reported.

In 1998 there were fears that competition was being stymied because some brands were refusing to allow discount stores to stock their products. Since then the growth of online retail and march of the supermarkets into electricals have transformed the sector.

Independent retailers have argued that the return of RRPs would help give consumers need a clearer idea of the value offered by high street stores.