CASE finds brands cutting quantity but not price
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