Competition Policy & Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen MP, today released an issues paper calling for public comment on developing a national unit pricing regime.
This is the next step in progressing the Rudd Government's commitment to introducing a nationally-consistent unit pricing regime, announced as part of the Government's preliminary response to the release of the ACCC's Grocery Inquiry.
Unit pricing (or comparative pricing) is the display of the price of goods per unit of measure, for example per 100 grams, per kilogram, per litre or per item.
"Unit pricing will enable consumers to make fast and accurate price comparisons on packaged grocery items in supermarkets," Mr Bowen said.
"Consumers will be able to use unit pricing to save money on their weekly shopping bills.
"As a consumer, when you're doing the shopping - often with a couple of kids in tow - it can be difficult to work out the best value, particularly when you are trying to compare similar products with varying weights.
"Independent studies have found that consumers who use unit pricing can make substantial savings."
The unit pricing issues paper raises a number of important considerations that the Government will be examining as it develops a national unit pricing regime.
They include:
- How can the Government maximise the benefits of unit pricing for consumers?
- How prominent should the unit price be on labelling or advertising?
- On what basis should smaller retailers be exempt from a unit pricing regime?
Copies of the issues paper can be obtained from the Treasury website - www.treasury.gov.au.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 10 October 2008. Submissions may be lodged electronically, by post or facsimile.