The Albanese Government today welcomes the release of CHOICE’s first quarterly report into supermarket prices.
Werriwa residents are experiencing cost-of-living pressures, and we know that a lot of that pressure is piled on at the cash register.
This research will help consumers make more informed choices so they can get cheaper prices at the checkout.
The Albanese Government provided CHOICE with $1.1 million to conduct quarterly price monitoring reports for three years to help give Australians the information they need to get the best deal on their weekly shop.
Today’s CHOICE ‘basket of goods’ report using data from March of this year is the first of these quarterly updates designed to help consumers make informed decisions about what they’re buying.
This initiative is an important part of the government’s broader efforts to boost competition and put downward pressure on the price of essentials, including through our ongoing inquiry into pricing and competition in the supermarket sector run by the ACCC, the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct review, and the Competition Taskforce’s focus on cost-of-living initiatives.
CHOICE’s next quarterly grocery price report will be released by the end of September 2024.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Competition, Dr Andrew Leigh:
“Information is power, and we’re putting that power in the hands of consumers in Werriwa. Helping shoppers find the best deal makes the family budget stretch further and puts more competitive pressure on the supermarkets.
“Australia’s supermarket sector is one of the most concentrated in the world, and it’s only fair that big supermarket chains get proper scrutiny to ensure that they’re doing the right thing by their customers.”
Quotes attributable to the Member for Werriwa, Ms Anne Stanley MP:
The Albanese Labor Government knows that people in Werriwa are doing it tough and these quarterly CHOICE reports will help get Australians a fair go at the checkout”.
“This is about making our supermarkets as competitive and transparent as they can be so people in Werriwa can buy their essentials for the best price possible”.
BACKGROUND
CHOICE’s ‘basket of goods’ report found Aldi’s basket was about 25 per cent cheaper than comparable baskets at Coles and Woolworths, saving shoppers around $17 on a basket of 14 typical grocery items.
The average basket price for Aldi, Woolworths and Coles nation-wide was:
• Aldi: $51.51 (with and without specials)
• Woolworths: $68.58 (without specials), $64.93 (with specials)
• Coles: $69.33 (without specials), $68.52 (with specials)
Other findings include:
– The absence of Aldi in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, means that shoppers end up paying higher prices.
– The average price of the basket in Western Australia was about one dollar higher than in the eastern states.
New South Wales Averages
Average basket cost:
• $63.22 (without specials) $61.78 (with specials)
• Aldi: $50.82
• Woolworths: $69.04
• Coles: $69.80
