Consumer Council enhances its work on surveying commodity prices and includes seasonings and dairy products as surveyed items to its specific price survey. The first specific price survey on seasonings revealed great price discrepancies in the 13 items sold in different retail outlets, most seasonings recorded a difference in price of around 20% to 30%. Prices of foods in Macao are affected by peripheral issues and are expected to rise. One of the key tasks of Consumer Council is to better its work on collecting and providing comprehensive information to consumers for making price comparisons and saving daily expenses. Two more product categories have been added to the Council's specific price survey pool to make a total of six categories, the Council will continue to adjust related projects according to requests of consumers and market changes. The two categories added are seasonings and dairy products. The Council's first survey on prices of seasonings dated 20th February recorded prices of 13 items, including soy sauce, salt, and sugar, etc., from 22 retail outlets. Survey results revealed a difference of around 20% to 30% in the selling prices of the same product sold in various outlets, the highest price discrepancy being recorded was over 50% . Consumer Council indicated that selling prices of seasonings usually ranged from a few dollars to around 10 dollars, though prices differed for only MOP2.00 to MOP3.00, the percentage difference was relatively high. For example, prices of 'Tai Yang Hua Brand Table Salt (1lb)' in different retail spots varied for up to MOP1.50, which equaled to a percentage difference of 60%. Price differences and comparisons can be accessed on the 'Specific product price information platform' on the Council's website. The latest specific price survey on seasonings is now available online on the Council's official website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
