CONSUMER SERVICE: COMPARISON OF PRICES IN LARGE SUPERMARKETS FOR COMMON PRODUCTS
The completion of the new large research, with data collection regarding the levels of retail prices that were valid on February 07, 2017 in large supermarkets, in all provinces, was announced yesterday by the Consumer Protection Service of the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism.
According to an announcement of the Service, the Price Observatory concerns Large Supermarkets and includes 359 basic consumer products.
According to the research findings, if a Nicosian buys 98 products from the cheapest supermarket, which is located in Agioi Omologites, he will pay 233 euros, while if he buys the exact same products from the more expensive one, he will pay 292 euros.
In between there are supermarkets in which, for exactly the same products, Nicosians will pay from six to 35 euros more expensive.
In Limassol the difference between the most expensive and the cheapest supermarket reaches 42 euros, in Larnaca 49 euros, in Paphos 26 euros and in free Famagusta 32 euros.
For the comparative evaluation of the supermarkets at the provincial level, the Consumer Protection Service has selected from the Observatory of basic consumer goods the common products, which are defined as those sold simultaneously in the large supermarkets monitored by the Consumer Protection Service per province.
It is noted that Common Price Observatory products may differ from province to province and from Common Product Common Dates.
Therefore, the communication states, any comparison of the total cost of the common products of a Price Observatory with previous or even between provinces should be avoided.
The Service also notes that, in order to properly evaluate the information, consumers must take into account both the Price Index and the number of products and categories that are cheaper in each supermarket. The above comparison is a useful information tool for the consumer, strengthening his ability to compare prices and make the most profitable markets for him.
Source: Sigma Live