The Consumer Council today (October 28) 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 Tsing Yi District.
In the analysis were listed the top 10 products with the most price differences found in this survey. Top on the list was: Lemon Puff Portion 21gx12's (from $10 to $26.9, or a price difference of 169%).
Following closely (between 74.4% and 65.2%) were: 100% Pure Petroleum Jelly 3.75oz ($16 to $27.9, or 74.4%); Po Chai Pills 10's ($11 to $18.9, or 71.8%); Balm (Red) 19.4g ($12 to $19.9, or 65.8%); Premium Oyster Sauce 510g ($23 to $38 or 65.2%).
The remainders 5 of the top 10 list (ranging from 50.4% to 40.9%) were: Daily Therapy Shampoo 700ml ($38.5 to $57.9, or 50.4%); Toothpaste - Gentle Whitening 120g ($26 to $37.9, or 45.8%); Chicken Franks 340.2g ($9 to $12.9, or 43.3%); Imperial Leather Bath Soap 125gx4's ($9.5 to $13.5, or 42.1%); Mushroom Flavoured Superior Dark Soy Sauce 500ml ($11 to $15.5, or 40.9%).
Other highlights in this weekly price survey covering (a) prepackaged food products, and (b) household and personal care products:
Prepackaged Food
- A total of 22 items in this category at 16 retail outlets, covering major supermarket chains, emporium, frozen food and grocery stores, provisions stores and health-and-beauty chains, in the Tsing Yi District, were compared for their prices.
- Considerable differences between the lowest and the highest unit prices were recorded, ranging from 8.1% to 169%.
- Quite a number of provisions and grocery stores in the district offered a range of rice, edible oil, canned food and sauce and some of them were generally cheaper than the major supermarket chains.
- Individual major supermarket chain offered free gift of vermicelli 100g for the purchase of Premium Thai Fragrant Rice Vacuum Treated 8kg.
- Some retail outlets offered add-size pack, for example, 37g add-size to Chicken Powder 273g by 3 grocery stores in the survey.
- A few major chains offered bulk purchase incentives. For example, 2 major supermarket chains offered Ketchup 340g at $10 for 2, averaging $5 each; the price discount further lowered the low unit price of these 2 chains thus the more purchase the more benefits.
- 3 major chains offered Sweet Corn Cream Style 418g at $11 for 2, averaging $5.5 each, the reduced unit price was on par with the lowest unit price offered for this item by individual provisions and grocery stores.
- 2 major supermarket chains and 1 frozen food chain offered Chicken Franks 340.2g at $11.9 or $9.5 each for the purchase of 2, the discount price was lower than their own unit price but still higher than the lowest unit price $9 recorded at individual frozen meat outlet.
Household/Personal Care Products
- A total of 18 items in this category at 19 retail outlets was surveyed, with price differences ranging from 12.4% to 74.4%.
- Some major supermarket and health-and-beauty chains offer 5% price discount for purchase of oral care products up to $40; some household utensils shop offered gift of a cleaning sponge for purchase of household cleaning products up to the value of $50.
- A few major supermarket chains, health-and-beauty chains, household utensils shop and cosmetic products chain offered 5% price discount to their members for the purchase of products at their original price, as well as bonus points for cash rebate or gifts, to encourage more purchase at the same outlet.
- Some outlets offered gifts for the purchase of designated goods. For example, 1 major supermarket and 2 health-and-beauty chains offered 1 dental mirror or towel for the purchase of Toothpaste for Smoker 150g.
- For the purchase of Daily Therapy Shampoo 700ml, 1 major supermarket chain offered gift of hair conditioner trial pack while 1 health-and-beauty chain offered shampoo and conditioner trial pack each.
- 2 drugstores offered bathing lotion for the purchase of 33 Concentrated Laundry Detergent (Refill) 2.25kg.
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.