Government launches grocery comparison site

The Labor government has launched a new website that allows consumers to track and compare the prices of staple groceries in different regions of the country.

According to newspaper the Australian, supermarkets in 61 different areas of the country are covered by the GROCERYchoice site.

Prices are compared for a "basket" of common groceries, including meat and seafood products, fruit and vegetables, dairy produce, breads and cereals, and drinks and snacks.

General groceries, household goods and personal care products are also included in the price comparisons, the publication noted. There is also a basic staples comparison measuring the price of essentials from each of the main categories.

In all, around 500 different products from 600 individual supermarkets will be compared each month. Retailers involved in the initiative include Coles, Woolworths, Safeway, BI-LO, IGA and Franklin's.

Across all regions, the newspaper said, Coles was named the cheapest supermarket in the majority of areas - although discount retailer Aldi was easier on consumer's credit cards in the regions where it operates.

The cheapest region for a basket of staple goods was named as Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the publication added.

The region, which covers Noosa, Maroochydore and Caloundra, as well as the northern suburbs of Brisbane such as Redcliffe and Northgate, was a "surprise" winner because of Noosa - often seen as a millionaire's playground for the baby boomer generation, it said.

GROCERYchoice was established after the government commissioned the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to hold a public inquiry into the competitiveness of grocery prices.

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