Findings of country price check survey

Mandurah swept the board in the latest Consumer Affairs price check survey, Consumer Affairs Minister Yvonne Henderson said today.

"The State-wide survey of prices of an average shopping basket produced an extraordinary result for Mandurah," Mrs Henderson said.

"All five supermarkets surveyed in the city late last month had lower basket prices than anywhere else in Western Australia.

"Cheapest was Coles, in Sholl Street, with a basket price of $108.47. Dearest Mandurah supermarket surveyed was Bi Lo at Halls Head shopping centre, at $110.60.

"As well, a country store outside Mandurah had a lower price than the cheapest metropolitan area store.  Coles in Stephen Street, Bunbury, had a shopping basket price of $111.69.

"This is still below the cheapest price in the metropolitan area, which was at Newmart in the Greenwood Shopping Centre ($112.00)."

Mrs Henderson said the average town price for three country towns had dropped since the last grocery survey in November 1991.

"Exmouth, Tom Price and Northam had lower average prices. Northam had the greatest reduction, down 3.4 per cent.

"Broome had the highest town average ($148.38), and Paraburdoo's average price went up by the greatest amount, at 11.4 per cent.

"Shoppers should also be aware that though price differences between the chains may vary by just a few cents, they can find substantial differences between the pricing policies of individual stores."