Council rolls out bi-weekly price survey to counter inflation (May
21, 2008) - Kwun Tong
PDFversion
Prices at two major supermarket chains
have become closely competitive.
This was borne out in the bi-weekly
price survey of the Consumer Council which collected earlier today
(May 21) the prices of a basket of 15 commodities comprising mainly
grocery items and rice, milk powder and household detergents from
16 different retail outlets.
The latest survey, conducted in the
district of Kwun Tong, produced a rather different pricing pattern
from previous surveys which showed that the major supermarket
chains are generally charging more compared with the smaller
grocery and drugstore outlets.
Out of the 15 items surveyed, the
lowest price of 7 items was found in either or both of the two
supermarket chains.
The items were: a brand of Premium
Thai Fragrant Rice 5kg ($47.9); a Cream of Chicken Soup 305g
($6.5); a Ketchup 340g ($4.9); a Premium Oyster Sauce 255g ($15); a
Chicken Powder 273g ($17.8); a Chinese Liquor Shuang Jin Chiew
500ml ($10.9); and a Jelly Powder Mango Flavour 90g ($3.3).
However, the prices at a major
supermarket chain were found to be higher than most other outlets
surveyed. Out of the 15 items, this supermarket chain was the most
expensive in 10 items (although the prices of 2 items would be
adjusted downwards if purchased in bulk).
The bi-weekly survey continued to
reveal price differences of the same products among the various
retail outlets. The highest price differential was found in the
case of a Ketchup 340g priced from $4.9, the lowest, to $9.5, the
highest, a difference of 93.9%.
Other notable price differentials
included: a Cream of Chicken Soup 305g ($6.5 to $10.5) 61.5%
difference, a Powerful Cream Cleanser 500ml ($8 to $12.9) 61.3%, a
Sliced Pineapple in Syrup 567g ($8 to $12.6) 57.5%, and a Jelly
Powder 90g ($3.3 to $5) 51.5%.
Consumers are advised to take
advantage of the price differences by shopping around and comparing
prices for value for money.
Results of the price survey are
available for reference of consumers at the Council's website at
www.consumer.org.hk/pricewatch , its Consumer Advice Centres as
well as the Public Enquiry Service Centre of Kwun Tong District
Office.
Price comparison report (Chinese
only) :
Microsoft Excel format/
PDF format
Issued by
Consumer Council
21 May 2008
