The Consumer Council today (October 9) released its weekly price survey on a basket of 40 food and household items available at major supermarket chains and other retail outlets in the Kwai Chung District.
In the analysis were listed the top 10 products with the most price differences found in this survey. Top on the list was: Nutritional Malted Drink 400g (from $23.5 to $38.9, or a price difference of 65.5%).
Following closely were: Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste 130g (from $22 to $35.9, or 63.2%); Sweet and Sour Spare Rib Sauce 80g ($3.8 to $6, or 57.9%); Glutinous Rice Dumpling 225g ($8.9 to $13.9, or 56.2%); Soy Sauce 600ml ($19 to $28.9, or 52.1%); Seaweed Cracker 100g ($3.9 to $5.9, or 51.3%).
The remainders of the top 10 list were: Pickled Cabbage 200g ($3.5 to $4.9, or 40%); Gold Blend Coffee 100g ($43 to $60, or 39.5%); Cream Style Corn 418g ($5.2 to $7.2, or 38.5%); Freshmint Toothpaste 120g ($26 to $35.9, or 38.1%).
Other highlights in this weekly price survey covering (a) prepackaged food products, (b) household and personal care products, and (c) fresh produce, include:
Prepackaged Food
- A total of 27 items in this category at 9 retail outlets, covering major supermarket chains, frozen food and grocery stores, and health-and-beauty chain store in the Kwai Chung District, were compared for their prices.
- Considerable differences between the lowest and the highest unit prices were recorded, ranging from 5.1% to 65.5%.
- Overall, major supermarket chains were generally more expensive, but a number of items were offered at discounted prices for bulk purchase. For example, two major supermarket chains offered Sweet and Sour Spare Rib Sauce 80g at a discounted price of $12 for 3 or buy-2-get-1-free offer at unit price of $6, averaging $4 each, bringing the price down to the same level as some retail outlets but still higher than a frozen food supermarket store.
Household/Personal Care Products
- A total of 9 items in this category at 11 retail outlets was surveyed, with price differences ranging from 0% to 63.2%.
- Overall, prices at major supermarket chains and health-and-beauty chain stores were generally higher than those at drugstores, but some offered price discount incentives for bulk purchase. Two major supermarket chains, for example, offered Freshmint Toothpaste 120g at $59.8 for 2, averaging $29.9 each, but even after price discount, drugstores were still comparatively cheaper.
Fresh Produce
- Due to possible variations in the place of origin, quality, size or freshness of fresh produce, direct price comparison is considered not suitable.
- A total of 4 items from 2 to 4 stalls at the North Kwai Chung Market and 2 major supermarket chains were included in the survey for reference of consumers.
Results of the weekly price survey are available on the Council's website, its Consumer Advice Centres, and the Public Enquiry Service Centre of Kwai Tsing District Office.