A new quarterly report from the consumer advocacy group Choice has identified a 7% increase in the cost of essential groceries across Australia’s four major supermarket chains. The data, gathered from 104 stores, tracked the price of a standard basket of goods including milk, apples, strawberries, bananas, potatoes, avocados, rice, and beef mince.

This analysis represents the 10th such survey conducted by Choice, which receives government funding to monitor supermarket pricing trends. The findings indicate that price hikes were consistent across the major retailers, though the report does not detail specific price differences between individual chains. While the survey highlights a clear upward trend in the cost of living for Australian households, it focuses specifically on a basket of eight common items, providing a snapshot of inflation rather than a comprehensive look at all supermarket inventory. The report serves as a benchmark for consumer advocacy groups and government regulators monitoring the competitiveness and pricing strategies of the dominant supermarket players in the Australian market.