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SINGAPORE: The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has discovered that two brands have increased the prices of their products by reducing the quantity of product being sold while keeping the same or just slightly different packaging.
According to the consumer watchdog body's latest "Grocery Price Survey", this meant that consumers would be paying more money for less quantity.
In one case, the quantity of detergent in each 5-kilogramme bag of Dynamo Laundry Liquid Detergent has been reduced by 300 grammes and its price raised by 75 cents, resulting in an increase in unit price.
CASE also found that the average price for Maggi Noodles (Curry Flavour) has remained the same even after the quantity of each unit had been decreased by 15 grammes - from 5s x 82 grammes to 5s x 79 grammes.
"Reducing the quantity of the products with minimal changes to the packaging may cause consumers to unknowingly pay for less quantity, or worse, pay more money for less quantity," CASE said in its media advisory.
"Manufacturers should give adequate notification on their packaging to inform consumers that they have downsized the quantity of their products. Revamping the packaging and/or revising the quantity on the packaging is not sufficient," it added.
The "Grocery Price Survey" also revealed that the percentage price difference for well-known brands sold at different retail outlets could be as high as 84.29 per cent. However, it noted that there are many cheaper alternatives to the well-known brands.
Among the supermarkets, NTUC FairPrice and Sheng Siong have the most number of lowest-priced products surveyed.
CASE said it will continue to monitor grocery prices next year. Consumers can also inform CASE at 6463-1811 if they notice any trend in grocery prices. - CNA/ha/al
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