CMA to scrutinise supermarket product unit pricing
The CMA said consumers ‘need confidence that they have the right information to make great choices and are getting fair deals’.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The competition watchdog will scrutinise supermarket unit pricing to ensure retailers are sticking to rules that help consumers accurately compare products.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has started to review unit pricing, which shows how much a particular product costs by weight or volume and helps shoppers choose the best value for money, following “concerns”.
It comes as grocery price inflation reached a record 16.7% in January, according to Kantar.
The CMA said consumers shopping for food and other essential products amid the rising cost of living “need confidence that they have the right information to make great choices and are getting fair deals”.
Grocery prices are a huge concern as households all over the country grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, so it’s timely and important for the CMA to be looking at whether prices are clearly and fairly displayed at the supermarket
The work follows the 2015 groceries super-complaint, when the CMA ruled complexities and inconsistencies with unit pricing may prevent people from spotting the best value deals.
The CMA said it will consider whether issues identified in 2015 remain, if retailers are complying with the law and consumer awareness and use of unit pricing information.
George Lusty, senior director for consumer protection at the CMA, said: “We know that the increased cost of living has hit the pound in people’s pockets.
“That’s why we’re pressing on with this important grocery unit pricing work to ensure shoppers can more easily compare prices and make choices that are right for them.”
Sue Davies, head of food policy at consumer group Which?, said: “Grocery prices are a huge concern as households all over the country grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, so it’s timely and important for the CMA to be looking at whether prices are clearly and fairly displayed at the supermarket.
“We know poor, inconsistent and sometimes missing price information is a problem and that’s why Which? is campaigning for pricing transparency from supermarkets, so that shoppers can easily work out which products are the best value.”