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SINGAPORE : A survey by the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) has found significant price rises for some essential items.
The price of one popular brand of rice rose 44 percent in a two-month period, between March and April this year. The price of another brand of cooking oil jumped 56 percent in the same period.
On the flip side, the survey also highlighted over 160 low-priced or budget items.
The CASE grocery survey covered 21 essential items in seven supermarket chains across Singapore.
Making up the basket of items were bread, canned pork luncheon meat, canned sardines, canned baked beans, canned mushrooms, cooking oil, eggs, instant noodles, rice, salt, sugar, condensed milk, milk powder, baby diapers, toothpaste, shower foam, soap, shampoo, dishwashing detergent, clothes detergent and toilet rolls.
Based on the supermarkets surveyed by CASE officials and volunteers on April 30, NTUC FairPrice had the greatest number of lowest priced items - 10.
This was followed by Sheng Siong at Tekka Mall with seven, and Giant and Shop N Save with four.
Except for FairPrice, which has a standard pricing policy across all its outlets, CASE found that prices for the same item could vary from branch to branch within the same supermarket chain.
Not surprisingly, housebrands form the bulk of these cheapest brands. Thus CASE has advised consumers to switch to housebrands.
It said housebrands and other low-priced labels can be substantially cheaper than their branded counterparts, which could cost twice as much.
Due to rapid price changes, CASE intends to conduct regular surveys, and supermarkets will not be informed in advance.
Yeo Guat Kwang, President, Consumers Association of Singapore, explained: "If we say that we are going to do it monthly, then they may be aware that this is the time that we are checking.
"So they may just adjust the price for that one day or two. And after the information is released, the consumers may not be able to - based on our tips - go get the best value on their money."
The survey's results will be available on CASE's website from next week. - CNA/ms
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