The Consumer Council today (July 15) 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 Cheung Sha Wan District.
In the analysis were listed the top 10 products with the most price differences found in this survey. Top on the list was: Lasting Care Moisturising Lotion 200ml (from $15 to $29.9, or a price difference of 99.3%).
Following closely (between 76.6% and 50%) were: Ultra Clothing Softener 1L ($17.5 to $30.9, or 76.6%); All Shiny White Toothpaste 160g ($11 to $18.5, or 68.2%); Silky Smooth Milk Tea 250ml ($3.9 to $6.5, or 66.7%); Imperial Leather Bath Soap 125g x 4 ($9 to $13.5, or 50%).
The remainders 5 of the top 10 list (ranging from 47.3% to 42.6%) were: Mopidick 50ml ($20.5 to $30.2 or 47.3%); Super Concentrate Multi-Purpose Cleaner 1L ($24 to $35, or 45.8%); Satay Sauce 220g ($11 to $15.9, or 44.5%); Facial Wash (Mild) 120g ($18 to $25.9, or 43.9%); Mosquitout Spray 100ml ($35 to $49.9, or 42.6%).
Other highlights in this weekly price survey covering (a) prepackaged food products, and (b) household and personal care products.
Prepackaged Food
- A total of 18 items in this category at 14 retail outlets, covering major supermarket chains, individual supermarkets, frozen food and grocery stores, health-and-beauty chains, drugstores, retail/wholesale shops, and gas station convenience stores in the Cheung Sha Wan District, were compared for their prices.
- Considerable differences between the lowest and the highest unit prices were recorded, ranging from 0% to 66.7%.
- The survey showed individual retail outlets offered free gifts for promotion of designated goods. For instance, 1 gas station convenience store offered 1 pack of 100g vermicelli free with Premium Thai Fragrant Rice Vacuum Treated 8kg.
- Some shops offered bulk purchase incentive. For example, 1 frozen food outlet offered Silky Smooth Milk Tea 250ml at $13.5 for 3, averaging $4.5 each, but the discounted price though cheaper than some, was still higher than that at a retail/wholesale shop.
- In the case of Orange Juice 450ml, some major supermarket chains, frozen food outlets, gas station convenience stores and retail/wholesale shops offered $11.9 for 2, $10 for 2, $20.9 for 4, and $9 for 2, averaging $6, $5, $5.2 and $4.5 each respectively. Consumers should therefore shop around and compare prices of goods even on bulk purchase discount.
Household/Personal Care Products
- A total of 22 items in this category at 17 retail outlets was surveyed, with price differences ranging from 8.6% to 99.3%.
- Some shops offered free gifts for purchase of designated items. For instance, some drugstores offered bath lotion and moisturising lotion for the purchase of Intensive Care Total Moisture Dryskin Lotion 15oz. Also some health-and-beauty chains and gas station convenience stores offered 1 beach ball for the purchase of Mosquitout Spray 100ml.
- Some major supermarket chains and health-and-beauty chains offered bulk purchase price discount on selected items. But whether or not they were cheaper varied from product to product. For example, in the case of All Shiny White Toothpaste 160g and Baby Shampoo-No More Tears Formula 800ml, their discounted price was still comparatively higher than the unit price at drugstores. But the discounted price of Foaming Hand Wash (Moisturising) 300ml and Facial Box Tissue 4+1's was comparatively lower.
Results of the weekly price survey are available on the Council's website, its Consumer Advice Centres, and the Public Enquiry Service Centre of Sham Shui Po District Office.