Supermarkets to introduce unit pricing for common grocery items

Unit pricing for common grocery items will be introduced at selected outlets across four major supermarket operators later in 2025.

FairPrice, Cold Storage and Giant, Sheng Siong and Prime will display unit pricing for items such as rice, meat, eggs, cooking oils, fruits and vegetables.

Announcing this on March 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said that in addition to the price of the product, consumers will also be able to see the price per unit displayed on the shelf, such as "per litre" or "per kilogram".

"This will provide consumers with relative price information to guide their purchasing decisions," said DPM Gan.

He added that as part of the pilot initiative, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) will also conduct a market survey to gather feedback from consumers on the display and benefits of unit prices.

DPM Gan said: "We hope that the use of unit pricing will improve price transparency, help consumers make choices to stretch their dollar and deter retailers from pricing gimmicks."

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) had introduced unit pricing on more than 1,200 grocery items on its Price Kaki mobile app in 2023, which has over 170,000 downloads now.

The Price Kaki app displays unit pricing for more than 6,000 items to date, allowing consumers to compare the prices of products across different brands and package sizes.

DPM Gan said that results from the market survey by CCCS will help shape guidelines on unit pricing.

To better protect consumers, DPM Gan said the Government has convened a Consumer Protection Review Panel.

In his speech at an appreciation dinner for the partners of Case, he said the panel will study how consumer rights can be strengthened, including recourse for defective goods and failure to deliver services.

It comes amid an increase in e-commerce complaints and a fourfold increase in prepayment losses reported by consumers in 2024 compared with the previous year.

Prepayment losses occur when consumers make payment for services in advance, only for the business to close or become unresponsive.

Prepayment losses reached a high of $1.93 million in 2024.

DPM Gan said at the event held at Orchard Hotel that there is an impetus to mitigate such losses, especially from sectors such as beauty, renovation and gyms with higher incidence rates.

The panel will study five key issues - prepayment losses, online commerce, entertainment events, pressure sales tactics and improving access to recourse.

DPM Gan noted that the rise of online purchases has led to an increase in e-commerce complaints, which comprised about 33 per cent of all complaints Case received in 2024.

"There is therefore also an impetus for us to study how to strengthen consumer recourse in the event of failure to fulfil orders, delivery issues, defective or non-conforming goods," he added.

The panel will be co-chaired by Case president Melvin Yong, who is also the MP for Radin Mas, and former judicial commissioner Foo Tuat Yien.

The panel will comprise academics, legal representatives and relevant industry leaders.

DPM Gan said the panel will consult industry stakeholders and study best practices abroad, to make recommendations that will empower consumers, raise industry standards and strengthen regulations.