Annual survey: staple food tops price surge in supermarket chains -CHOICE # 378

Edible oil and rice prices surged by an aggregate average of 16.3% and 12.7% respectively last year.

A non-food item also in the rank of double-digital price increase was toothpaste, up an aggregate average of 15.6%.

They were among a basket of 200 items of food and daily commodities covered in the Consumer Council's annual price survey on 3 supermarket chains - CRVanguard, Parknshop and Wellcome.

Overall, their average price rose by 4.6% in 2007 compared with 2006. 

The analysis was based on scan data (actual prices paid by consumers) of the 3 supermarket chains. The 200 items were divided into 11 main categories and further into 37 sub-categories.

An analysis of the 11 main categories showed that all were on an upward trend in 2007, ranging from an aggregate average of 0.6% to 15%.

The paper/household cleaning/laundry products category had the least price increase of 0.6%.

The staple food category consisting of edible oil and packaged rice scored the highest price rise of 15%.

The canned food category was somewhere in the middle with a 6.1% rise in price.

A further breakdown of the items showed that 30 of the 37 sub-categories were up, an overall average price rise of 0.3% to 16.3%.

Besides edible oil (16.3%), toothpaste (15.6%), and packaged rice (12.7%), other noticeable price increases included frozen food (8%), cheese (6.4%), canned meat (6.2%), canned soup (5.8%) and snacks (5.6%).

Inflation is escalating relentlessly, hitting hard the pocket of the average supermarket shoppers. But even in time of widespread inflationary prices, there will still be bargains for the astute shoppers.

5 product groups actually cost 0.9% to 3.2% less last year compared with 2006. They included: beer 3.2% down and infant diaper 2.3% less.

And remaining unchanged in price were 2 product groups, namely, biscuits and oriental noodles.