Consumer Council released its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 18th April. This month's survey revealed stability in prices of rice and price increases in many cooking oil products and dairy products. Survey result also showed that price differences existed for the same product being sold in different supermarket chain stores located in different areas in Macao; in the current survey, two supermarkets under the same group were found to have different selling prices for almost 30% of the over 300 surveyed items, such price differences ranged from minimal to about 20%. The 'Supermarket Price Survey' revealed stability in prices of rice. In comparison with last month's data, prices of almost half of the over 50 items surveyed under 'Sanitary & Hygienic Product' category had decreased, mainly toothpaste and deodorant. Average price of many canned food items also recorded a slight decrease. Price increases were mainly recorded in cooking oil items and dairy products this month. Over half of the 25 cooking oil samples surveyed showed slight increase in price. Though dairy products, especially cheese and butter, etc., continued to record price increases in recent months, the highest price increase recorded in April was less than 3%, which is lower than that recorded in March. In comparison with March's figures, prices of 'Nestle Dairy Farm Hi Cal Low Fat Fruit Yoghurt (150g)' increased by almost 13% in many retail outlets. The Council indicated that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed by the Council, selling prices of the same product are found to vary in different branches located in different areas in Macao. Two branches of San Miu Supermarket, located at Rua dos Mercadores and in Taipa, were found to have different selling prices for over 100 items and those prices varied for up to 20%. Similar cases were observed in branches of Royal Supermarket and PARKnSHOP but the price differences were comparatively small. Consumers are advised to check with the data provided by the Council on its website and its 'Supermarket price platform' iPhone app for easy reference. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone app. 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 inquiries, please call 8988 9315.
