Consumer Council released its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 17th December. In comparison with last month's records, about 63 percent of the surveyed products recorded price decreases or no change in price. Prices of rice and canned food remained stable while those of cooking oil had decreased lightly. A total of 350 products were surveyed this time and in comparison with last month's records, 220 of the surveyed products, mainly rice, canned foods, cereal and infant formulas recorded price decreases or no change in price. Survey result also showed that prices of rice and canned food remained stable and some products even recorded minimal price decreases. Meanwhile, dairy products were found to observe price drop. Prices of milk and yogurt surveyed this time had been decreased by up to 5 percent, though prices of several brands of butter and cheese recorded minimal price increases. In the current survey, half of the cooking oil brands surveyed remained at the same price level of last month and prices of some had dropped by 1 to 3 percent. Prices around 120 products, mainly snacks and beverages, had been increased by 1 to 2 percent; price increases from minimal to over 10 percent were observed in tissue papers. Consumer Council reminds consumers that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions due to special discounts offered. A price discrepancy of over 40 percent was discovered this time in one brand of evaporated milk due to a special price offered in one branch of the same supermarket chain. Further, about one third of the surveyed products sold at San Miu supermarket R. dos Mercadores branch and Taipa Wui Keng Garden branch were found to have different selling prices of up to over 50 percent. Price discrepancies were found mainly in snacks, with prices differed for about 2 to 10 percent in the two mentioned branches. Prices of around 20 products were also found to differ at different branches of both Royal Supermarket and Park'n Shop. Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform', especially the function of 'Top Ten Price Differences' for the surveyed products.
The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
