Consumer Council recently spot-checked 20 local bakeries to compare prices of white bread. In comparison with figures from last year, this year's result showed that minimal price decrease to obvious increase of up to 46 percent were recorded in prices of each 100g of white bread. Consumer Council collected prices of bagged white bread from 20 local bakeries in August and collected samples included packages of 4 slices, 6 slices, 7 slices, and 8 slices. The testing unit commissioned by Consumer Council used precise weighing machine to measure the net weight of packs of 5-piece white bread and calculated the selling price of each 100g of white bread after the weighing process. Test result indicated that prices of each 100g of white bread in the 20 bakeries ranged from $1.77 to $3.56, which reflected a price difference of 101.1 percent. Jim Sai Cake Shop, located at Rua de São Lourenço, recorded the lowest selling price while the highest was recorded in Saint Honore Cake Shop in Areia Preta. The Council further compared prices of white bread recorded this year with the figures from last year's test. Out of the 19 bakeries with comparable figures, 15 bakeries have increased their prices of bagged white bread and the percentage increase ranged from 1 percent to over 46 percent. The highest price increase of 46.3 percent was observed in Pastelaria Honoré located at Rua da Barca, however, 4 bakeries were found to have dropped their prices of each 100g of white bread and the most notable price decrease of 8 percent was recorded in Golden Cake Shop. Meanwhile, samples of bagged white bread from the same bakery were tested for their net weight differences. Testing result revealed that weight difference of bagged white bread from the same bakery varied from 5.1 percent to 36.5 percent. Café Free, located at Avenida Ouvidor Ariaga, recorded the biggest net weight difference. The above-mentioned test result of bread prices is available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo).
