Consumer Council released its 'Supermarket Price Survey' of March. In comparison with data from last month, average prices of 33 percent of the surveyed products had been decreased, 25 percent of products recorded no change in price and prices of 41.5 percent of products had been increased. Most cooking oil brands surveyed recorded light decreases in price and rice prices remained stable. Consumer Council collected prices of about 350 products in its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 18th March. Prices of 115 products had been decreased slightly and mostly included cooking oil, beverages and dairy products. Among the 25 surveyed cooking oil brands, half of them recorded minimal to about 4 percent of price decreases. Average prices of cheese products have also dropped slightly in the past two months. Price increases were mainly recorded in canned foods, infant products and tissue papers, etc. but increases were only minimal and prices of 86 products recorded no change in price in both last and current surveys. Survey result also showed that prices of rice remained stable as 12 out of the 20 surveyed rice brands in the current survey recorded no change in price and other brands recorded minimal price drops. 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 58 percent of over 260 items sold at Taipa Tai Fung recorded the lowest price among all surveyed supermarkets in the current survey. Park'n Shop at R. Areia Preta came next, with 21 percent of its over 210 on-shelf items having the lowest price. 21 percent of the over 260 items sold at Lee Fong supermarket at Almirante Costa Cabral also recorded the lowest price. Consumer Council reminds consumers that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions. In this month's survey, price discrepancies were observed mainly in branches of San Miu supermarket in which about half of the 200 products sold at its R. dos Mercadores branch and Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues Royal Center branch were found to have different selling prices, price differences ranged from 5 to 10 percent were observed and found mainly in canned food, seasonings and snacks. Prices of 'Tulip Pork Luncheon Meat /340g' differed for over 22 percent while price discrepancies ranged from 3 to 7 percent were observed in other canned food brands. A general price discrepancy of 5 percent was also observed in seasoning products. Prices of around 20 products were also found to differ up to 41 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.
