Consumer Council's quarterly specific price survey on rice revealed that prices of Thai rice brands, in comparison with last quarter's data, had increased by over 10 percent, prices of Australian rice brands, on the contrary, had been stable. The specific price survey on rice for Q4 was conducted on 6th December. In comparison with data from last quarter, 6 out of 11 surveyed Thai rice brands recorded price increase of over 10 percent, prices of 'Golden Rice King (10kg)', '"Tsing Ling Gi" Thai Hom Mali Rice (10kg)', and 'Golden Earth (10kg)' all recorded price increases from 10 to 20 percent. Meanwhile, price of Japanese rice brand 'Japanese Variety Pearl Rice (5kg)' had also increased by 10 percent. The most significant price drop was found in 'Double Ram Australian Calrose Rice (5kg)' in which price had dropped by around 6 percent in Q4, a price decrease of 26 percent was even recorded at one retail spot. In the current survey, prices of Australian brands and brands from other countries tend to be more stable. Consumer Council summarizes that rice prices in local market were stable in the first three quarters but tended to accelerate in the last quarter. For prices of the same brand sold in different retail outlets, significant price discrepancies still exists in certain outlets, and a price variation of over 25 percent was observed this time in the product 'Red Lotus (5kg)'. The latest specific price survey on rice can be accessed at the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), consumers may also get access to individual pages of each rice brand on the 'Price Information Platform' to get full details of rice price. For inquiry, please call 89889315. The above article is accessible at http://www.consumer.gov.mo/c/ccnews.asp
