http://www.news.com.au/business/money/story/0,28323,26323275-5017313,...
AUSTRALIANS are paying the fastest-rising food prices of any major developed nation.
The cost of feeding a family has shot up more than 40 per cent this decade, new
OECD figures reveal.
That is a quarter quicker than prices have risen in Britain, twice as fast as in
France and nearly three times the speed at which German groceries have
increased, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Experts say the explanation for our pricey produce and soaring staples is not
drought, currency movements or transport costs.
University of NSW associate professor Frank Zumbo said comparing costs over 10
years eliminated such variables and exposed our "cosy" supermarket duopoly as
the main reason.
"When you look internationally, it is our market concentration which explains
why our grocery prices are rising faster," he said.
But Woolworths says there's plenty of competition in the market.
"We don't believe we have too much power," Woolworths' James Aylen told the
Seven Network. "We actually think the Australian market is very competitive.
"We know the ACCC had their inquiry last year and they certainly found it to be
competitive as well," he said.
Mr Aylen said Woolworths' internal figures showed grocery prices were beginning
to fall.
"So we'll continue to work with our suppliers to try and make sure we can offer
the most competitive prices within the Australian market."
There is growing criticism of the Rudd Government's failure to deliver on its
promise to put more pressure on supermarket chains through price monitoring.
In June the Government canned an expanded and more detailed version of tracking
website Grocery Choice - five days before it was due to launch. Now there is no
way for consumers to compare prices.
"You can find out the cost of flights from Timbuktu to Bogota on a Tuesday but
you can't find out the price of Vegemite in your local Woolies, unless it's on
special," said Christopher Zinn of Choice, which was to run the new Grocery Choice.
The old version was operated by the ACCC.
At the time of killing off Grocery Choice, Consumer Affairs Minister Craig
Emerson raised the possibility of the supermarket industry developing its own
site. "We've heard nothing about that since," Mr Zinn said.
The Australian National Retailers Association - of which Woolworths and Coles
are members - said discussions were taking place but there was no plan for an
industry-run price-tracking site.
According to OECD price data published this month, food prices in Australia have
increased 41.3 per cent since the start of 2000.
Spain has the next fastest rate of increase over that time at 41.2 per cent. It,
too, suffers from market concentration.
The UK is next at 32.9 per cent. Canada 32.7 per cent, Italy (29.7 per cent) and
US (28.4 per cent).
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ipvdBnU8F8
- KRudd at his finest.
"The Labour Party is corrupt beyond redemption!"
- Labour hasbeen Mark Latham in a moment of honest clarity.
"This is the recession we had to have!"
- Paul Keating explaining why he gave Australia another Labour recession.
"Silly old bugger!"
- Well known ACTU pisspot and sometime Labour prime minister Bob Hawke
responding to a pensioner who dared ask for more.
"By 1990, no child will live in poverty"
- Bob Hawke again, desperate to win another election.
"A billion trees ..."
- Borke, pissed as a newt again.
"Well may we say 'God save the Queen' because nothing will save the governor
general!"
- Egotistical shithead and pompous fuckwit E.G. Whitlam whining about his
appointee for Governor General John Kerr.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU DUMB CUNT!"
- FlangesBum on learning the truth about Labour's economic capabilities.
"I don't care what you fuckers think!"
- KRudd the KRude at his finest again.
"We'll just change it all when we get in."
- Garrett the carrott
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