Highlights of the latest bi-weekly price survey, released today (July 30) and conducted on a basket of 15 commodities (11 food and 4 non-food items) at a total of 17 different retail outlets in the Sheung Shui District include:
- In the food sector, the items were found with price differences ranging from 10.7% to 92.1%. The biggest price difference was found in Fiesta Tropical Fruit Mix 850g ranging in price from $8.9, the lowest, to $17.1, the highest, a price difference of $8.2 or 92.1%.
- High price differences were also recorded in 2 other food items: Canton Love-Pes Vine Drink 500ml (from $4 to $6.5 or 62.5% difference); and Pure Peanut Oil 900ml (from $28 to $43.9 or 56.8%).
- Generally, these 3 items with high price differences could be found with lower prices in grocery/frozen food stores in the district, although 1 of the items could also be found with lower price in a major supermarket chain.
- Notable price differences were found also in Shredded Pork and Preserved Vegetable 240g (from $9.5 to $14.2 or 49.5% difference); and Premium Pork Luncheon Meat 397g (from $12.5 to $17.5 or 40%).
- The remainder 6 food items were also found with price differences of a smaller extent between 10.7% and 24.3%.
- Grocery/frozen food outlets scored the most items with lowest prices (9 out of 11) while major supermarket chains 2 items and drugstores 1 item. Conversely, 8 items with highest prices were recorded in the supermarket chains, while 3 items in grocery/frozen food outlets.
- Some of the supermarket chains offered bulk purchase discount, e.g. Oyster Sauce 510g at a unit price of $15.4 for purchase of 2 at $30.8 which compared favourably with the lowest price of $16.9 available at a frozen food/grocery store.
- In the category of the 4 non-food items, the price differences of the items in the survey ranged from 14.4% to 46%.
- Higher price differences were found in Pre-wash Stain Remover 500ml (from $15 to $21.9 or 46% difference); Glass Magiclean 500ml (from $10 to $13 or 30%). Generally, drugstores were cheaper by comparison with the big supermarket chains for these household items.
Results of the bi-weekly price survey are available for reference of consumers at the Council's website, its Consumer Advice Centres as well as the Public Enquiry Service Centre of North District Office.