Consumer Council released its 'Supermarket Price Survey' of April. In comparison with data from last month, average prices of around 55 percent of the surveyed products had been decreased or recorded no change in price and prices of 45 percent of products had been increased slightly. Rice prices remained stable. Consumer Council collected prices of about 350 products in its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 22nd April. In comparison with data from March, prices of 104 products had been decreased, they included dairy products such as milk and adult milk powder, tissue papers and frozen foods, etc.. Average prices of 'Dettol Anti-bacterial Wipes/10pcs' had dropped by over 15 percent. For the 152 items which recorded price increases, they included mainly cooking oil, beverages, and toothpastes. Rice and cereal products mostly recorded no change in price. The Council also analyzed the percentage of lowest price products available in the 11 fixed choices of supermarkets. Tai Fung supermarket in Taipa recorded the highest percentage of on-shelf lowest price items in which around 57 percent of over 270 items sold at Taipa Tai Fung recorded the lowest price among all surveyed supermarkets in the current survey. Lee Fong supermarket at Almirante Costa Cabral came next, with 21 percent of its over 270 on-shelf items having the lowest price. 21 percent of the over 210 items sold at Park'n Shop at R. Areia Preta also recorded the lowest price. Among the 4 supermarket chains surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions and price discrepancies were observed especially in branches of San Miu and Tai Fund supermarkets. San Miu supermarket R. dos Mercadores branch and Taipa Flower City branch were found to have different selling prices for over 250 on-shelf items and price differences from 0.04 percent to 15 percent were observed mainly in cooking oil, canned foods, and seasonings. For Tai Fung supermarkets, price differences from 0.2 percent to 41 percent were observed in about 70 percent of the over 200 on-shelf items sold at its Taipa branch and Yi Nam branch. Prices of around 20 products were also found to differ up to 44 percent in 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. Consumers can also download the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps to make price comparisons. 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.
