Consumer Council recently collected selling prices of 9 festive foods. Survey result revealed that price differences of the same product sold at different retail outlets ranged from 15 percent to almost 40 percent. Survey result has been uploaded to the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' in its website.
Consumer Council collected prices of 9 festive foods from 26 retail outlets on 1st February, surveyed items included 'Planters Selection (yellow)', 'Kraft Ritz Sandwich Cracker', 'Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies', 'Kjeldsens Butter Cookies' , 'Ferrero Rocher', 'Brown & Haley Almond Roca', 'Sugus Assorted Fruited Flavour Chews', 'Lindt Lindor (Red)', and 'Bourbon Chocochip Cookies' in which the last two items were newly added to the survey this year. Survey result showed that price differences of the 9 festive foods ranged from 15 to 40 percent and the average price difference was about 20 percent.
The greatest price discrepancy was observed in 'Kjeldsens Butter Cookies/681g', which differed for 38.5 percent in price and was sold at $78.0 to $108.0 at different retail outlets. Survey result also showed that prices of 'Ferrero Rocher/300g (24pcs)' sold at R. Dos Mercadores branch and Taipa Flower City branch of the same supermarket group differed for 3 percent while selling prices of other products sold at different branches of this group remained the same.
In comparison with data from last year's survey, items that recorded price increases in many retail outlets this year included 'Ferrero Rocher/300g (24pcs)' and ''Brown & Haley Almond Roca/340g'. Both festive food brands recorded minimal to over 10 percent of price increase while prices of other brands had been dropped slightly. Prices of 'Kraft Ritz Sandwich Cracker/354g' had been decreased by about 5 percent at many retail spots.
The specific price survey on festive foods is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps.
Further, the latest issue of Consumer Report features an article on how to choose festive foods and reminds consumers to be aware of too much kitchen waste during Chinese New Year. The combined edition issue no. 233/234 of Consumer Report also covers a report on the number of cases received by the Council in 2012, and recent activities of the Council.
Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the office of Consumer Council (Rua Inácio Baptista, Nº 6-6A Edficio Seaview Garden R/C), and the service counter of Consumer Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the resources online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
