Metro survey finds Mandurah supermarkets cheapest

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

"The Statewide 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.

"The lowest price found for a country supermarket outside of Mandurah was at Coles in Stephen Street, Bunbury ($111.69).

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

"Dearest metropolitan store surveyed was Cheap Foods, Fieldgate Shopping Centre, Balga ($126.17)."

Mrs Henderson said the average index price for the shopping basket in the metropolitan area was $117.90, up 2.1 per cent since the last survey in November 1991.

"The cost of a basket of groceries can vary by up to 10.9 per cent within a few kilometres.

"The four supermarket chains or franchise holders with the lowest averages were Woolworths, Supa Valu, Newmart and Action, each with a chain average just above $116.

"In the November 1991 survey, the four cheapest chains were Woolworths, Bi Lo, Coles and Action, all between $113 and $115.56.

"Supa Valu and Newmart have increased their competitiveness over the period.

"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."

A total of 96 stores, representing nine chains or franchise banners, participated in the survey in Perth and Mandurah.