Coles still cheapest in survey

(AAP) The competition watchdog's second GROCERYchoice survey has found Coles is still the cheapest supermarket in most regions across Australia.

The September survey found Coles was the cheapest in 40 of the 61 regions surveyed.
But the supermarket giant's margin has dropped slightly compared to August, when 52
of the 61 regions showed Coles as the cheapest.
The price difference between Coles, Woolworths and the independent supermarkets has
narrowed as well, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
"GROCERYchoice helps consumers find out something supermarkets won't tell them, who
is the cheapest overall," Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen told AAP.
The latest figures showing Coles was still cheaper in two thirds of all regions
showed that GROCERYchoice was "helping consumers to make well-informed decisions",
he said.
But the website was described as farcical and an insult to the Australian consumer,
by the coalition's consumer affairs spokesman Luke Hartsuyker.
He says the site is useless for consumers, and fails to provide any meaningful
information.
"The site does not provide any specific costs on any specific items at any specific
supermarket," Mr Hartsuyker said in a statement.
"And as useless as the information is, all the details which have today been lodged
on the website are already out-of-date."
Mr Hartsuyker said Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen was out of touch.
"GROCERYchoice is nothing more than a political fix for (Prime Minister) Kevin
Rudd," Mr Hartsuyker said.
"But Australians know when they have been conned and they know that GROCERYchoice
does not deliver on Mr Rudd's promise to deliver lower grocery prices.
"The sad reality of this website is that it is having a damaging impact on the
independent supermarkets because it places shops of all shapes and sizes in the one
group and ignores the convenience many of them provide."
Mr Bowen again defended GROCERYchoice.
"This is vital information that consumers can throw in the mix - alongside the
quality of goods and customer service - before they decide where to shop," Mr Bowen
said.
"Another benefit of GROCERYchoice has been to increase competitive tension in the
grocery sector, driving the consumer dollar further."
GROCERYchoice publishes the average prices of grocery "basket" categories at
supermarket chains across Australia, using 500 products typically bought by
Australian households.
The baskets include meat and seafood, fruit and vegetables, dairy, breads and
cereals, drinks and other snacks, general groceries, household and personal care.
The price of the basic staples basket is calculated from a range of staple products
from the other baskets.
To stop price manipulation, individual product prices are kept confidential and the
products surveyed are rotated.