Australians are reducing their purchases and consumption in response to a cost-of-living emergency and extremely high increases in grocery costs.
We were curious about the prices that Australians are encountering at grocery stores following the government’s request for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate supermarkets.
Out of the 170 replies to a call for information by Guardian Australia, many expressed frustration with unexplained price increases and a lack of trust in major supermarket chains. As a result, many have started shopping at Aldi and local markets.
Readers have expressed their thoughts:
Intentionally creating confusion through pricing tactics.
“My significant other and I used to purchase bags of baby spinach leaves. These bags contained 500g and cost $5. However, we noticed that we were running out of spinach faster without making any changes to our eating habits. We then discovered that the bag size had been reduced to 280g, but the price remained the same at $5. As a result, we now buy our spinach directly from local farmers at the market or farm entrance.”
The cost of Caffé Aurora Medaglia D’Oro 1kg coffee beans at Coles increased from $18 to $32 per kilogram approximately one year ago. This was a significant increase from the stable price of $18 per kilogram that had been maintained for many years. After staying at the higher price for a few months, the coffee beans were then advertised as being discounted to the “down down” price of $19, with the original price stated as $32. The price remained at $19 for a few months before going back up to $32. This cycle of decreasing and increasing prices has occurred a few times. Recently, the price returned to $19 (leading me to stock up), but I anticipate it will go back up again. This pricing tactic may seem like an artificial increase followed by a substantial decrease, but in reality, it is just a return to the original price. – Anonymous, Melbourne
I have noticed a trend of rising prices for items I regularly purchase. For example, mainland cheese slices used to cost $9.50, but now they are $11. This is frustrating because Woolworths falsely claims the previous price was $12 by labeling it as a “price drop” to $11. In reality, Cadbury chocolate was $6 last week and has now increased to $7. Similarly, John West salmon slices have slowly gone up from $3.95 to $4.90 per tin. – Michelle, Queensland
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Coles utilizes the Yellow/Red discount stickers in a strategic manner to cause confusion. They intentionally do not stock marked special bins and instead offer costly alternatives on either side. While they may place special stickers on entire sections of products, the price reductions offered are minimal, creating the illusion of value without actually providing it. – Bill Leigh, West Pennant Hills
The cost of 2kg boxes of Radiant laundry powder at Coles often changes, ranging from $20 to a discounted price of $10. This leads me to believe that the actual price should be $10 and the $20 price is used to make the $10 discount appear more significant.
I consume less in order to be able to cover my expenses.
“Toby’s oats, which used to cost $3.50 for 1kg before the pandemic, now costs $6.50. As a result, I now only purchase them when they are on sale for $3.50 and buy in bulk, usually 10 boxes at a time. This has led to a decrease in my regular consumption of oats and a constant search for other breakfast options.” – Bill Radley, resident of Batemans Bay
“I am unsure of where to begin. The prices of various items have risen significantly, such as gluten-free products, grated cheese, block cheese (increased from $6 to $10), cream, bacon (now priced at $9 to $20+ per kilogram), eggs (ranging from $4 to $6-7 per carton), fresh fruits and vegetables, pet food (a 3kg bag now costs $22), cleaning products, biscuits, chips, tea, coffee, [long life] milk, dishwasher tablets (some costing up to $60 per bag!), cake mixes, pasta sauces, BBQ chickens, and fresh meat products. Additionally, many products have been reduced in size.
“I am currently adjusting my budget to account for all expenses. I am focusing on batch cooking more meals, limiting snacks and reducing our meat consumption. Additionally, I am actively seeking out sales and promotions every week. Unfortunately, having a child with food intolerances often leads to being charged exorbitant prices, such as $7-8 for a small loaf of gluten-free bread.”
“I am hopeful that the investigation into the dominant market position of supermarkets and their unfair pricing practices during a difficult time for everyday Australian families and farmers will produce satisfactory explanations and outcomes.” – Anonymous, from Launceston
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In October/November, a pair of turkey drumsticks at Woolworths supermarket cost $8. However, two weeks before Christmas, the price increased to $25. After Christmas, the price dropped to $15. Meanwhile, the cost of [SC] Johnson ‘Off!’ insect repellent has gone from $6.50 to $10. In order to manage their expenses, the speaker has had to decrease their purchases and food intake. This statement was made by an anonymous individual living in NSW.
The prices of popular cereal brands have significantly increased. For example, a 1.2kg box of Sanitarium Weet-Bix used to cost $5, but suddenly, it was priced at $6 in all Coles and Woolworths stores. Similarly, other cereals like Nutri-Grain and Uncle Toby’s have also seen a significant price hike, with boxes now costing over $10. This sudden increase in prices has made it difficult for me to purchase branded cereals, unless they are on sale for half-price. This change has been noticed by Luke from Canberra.
In the past year and a half, my grocery expenses have nearly doubled. During my last trip to Coles, I purchased fruits, vegetables, some household essentials, but no protein, and it cost me $189. Since I am single and only have one person to feed, this does not include my cat’s food, which has also gone up by 25% during this time.
I have reduced my spending and started shopping at Aldi and small fruit markets. As the head of the English department, I used to provide a lot of office supplies for my staff, but I have now decreased this and have noticed that my staff are not able to contribute as much as before. – Anonymous, Oakleigh East
“I will retain my funds.”
“For 25 years, I have been responsible for buying groceries every week for my family of five from our nearby Woolworths store. Before the sudden rise in inflation, my typical shopping amount ranged from $250 to $300. However, it suddenly increased to $400 to $450.”
“After my experience and observing Woolworth’s semi-annual earnings, I opted to give Aldi a chance for the first time, despite it being a 5-10 minute drive away. As a result, my weekly shopping costs have decreased to $250-$300, saving me around $150 every week. I have no desire to shop at Woolworths anymore!” – Graeme Gleeson, Mount Hawthorn
I have observed a trend of package sizes getting smaller. For example, a box of Cornflakes used to be 450g and cost $5.45, but now it is only 380g and costs $5. However, the decrease in price is not proportional to the decrease in weight, resulting in an increase in the real price per gram.
I have observed a similar occurrence with pineapple juice. The amount has decreased from 500ml to 400ml, yet the price decrease is minimal in comparison. This is a common tactic. In the past, I can recall that a Tim Tam packet used to contain 12 biscuits, but now it only holds nine. However, the cost has significantly increased. As a result, I am buying less and will hold onto my money. – Jeffrey, Willoughby
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Certain replies have been modified for better organization and brevity.
Source: theguardian.com
