Price gaps in supermarkets reach 189%: CC

The Consumer Council (CC) has reported noticeable price differences for everyday products in Macau supermarkets, with some items costing nearly twice as much depending on the store.

The latest survey shows price gaps of up to 188.6%, underscoring how variations between chains could affect household budgets.

The “Lao Gan Ma Chili Black Bean Sauce (280g)” continues to top the list of items with the largest price gap. The CC verified that it was sold at a price difference of 188.6% between different supermarket chains in Macau.

According to the CC, the product costs MOP11.40 in several branches of San Miu Supermarket and MOP32.90 in several stores of the ParknShop chain.

Following previous reports, another product that consistently appears at the top for higher price differences is the “Dove 3-in-1 Beauty Cream Bar (90g),” for which the CC found a price difference of 131.7% between the ParknShop chain (MOP13.90) and the Nam Wa American Goods Yard (MOP6.00).

The same is true for “Just Pure Drinking Yogurt – Original Flavor (215ml),” for which the CC found a price difference of 119.2%.

Once again, the ParknShop chain offered the product at a higher price (MOP16), while many branches of San Miu Supermarket sold it for MOP7.30.

Very significant price differences were also found in laundry detergents. For example, the “Attack Concentrated Disinfecting Laundry Stick (24pcs)” was found to have a price difference of 99.7% between ParknShop and Seng Cheong chains (MOP76.90) and MOP38.50, as it was priced at San Miu and Royal Supermarkets.

The CC lists 30 products for which it found a price difference of 69% or higher, including milk, personal hygiene products, and cleaning products.

As in previous reports, the information is based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the council, which involved visiting over 100 supermarkets and verifying the prices of 600 goods and products across 14 categories.

Generally, the supermarkets offering the most affordable prices for products surveyed continue to be from the Royal chain, followed by San Miu. In contrast, Sunsco and Van Kei chains occupied the bottom positions.

The bureau advises consumers to pay attention to price differences between stores to make informed decisions that can impact personal and family budgets.