Yahoo Finance Woolworths 2003 catalogue prices shock Aussies: 'Look how cheap'
A two-decades-old Woolies catalogue has sparked debate on the cost-of-living crisis and rising prices at the supermarket giant.
A 21-year-old Woolworths catalogue has stunned Aussie shoppers who compared the prices of supermarket staples to what they cost today.
Two decades ago, a 32-pack of Huggies Ultra Dry Nappies from Woolies was on offer for just under $17 – a discount of $2.60 in the Red Spot Sale – whereas today, the same full-price item sets parents back $22.
“Geez, the Huggies were expensive even back then,” one shopper commented after the throwback catalogue was shared on Facebook.
A 2-litre bottle of Coke cost $1.68, a saving of 70 cents, while today the same full-price product is $3.90.
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The post sparked a debate about the price of bananas, which have skyrocketed over the years, usually following extreme environmental episodes including floods and cyclones.
One Facebook user said they remembered when a single banana cost $5 following particularly bad flooding, while another said bananas at their local supermarket used to be $2 a kilo but soared to over $10 a kilo after Cyclone Yasi devastated banana crops in Queensland in 2011.
“But when Queensland recovered from the damage, the price of bananas only dropped to $4 from $5 per kilo and everyone thought that was great, but it was still massively more expensive than pre-2011 banana prices,” she added.
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Another shopper said bananas at her supermarket rose to a huge $15 a kilo after the cyclone.
One customer was stunned by the cost of meat in 2003, when a prime quality lamb leg roast cost $7.94 a kilo, a saving of $2.05 per kilo, although others said the same cut was $8 a kilo at Woolies last week.
Another added, “[A] large boneless lamb leg at Costco is $50. When cut into four, [it] gives us four roast dinner meals for three adults. Large lamb loin tray [is] $36 and will give us 2-3 lamb meals per week for two months.
“The supermarkets are not the only places to get your meat,” she added.
Grocery price increases 'rapid and dramatic'
Chris Ford, from Compare the Market, told Yahoo Finance, “It’s normal for prices of our goods and services to increase over time, but it’s the rapid and dramatic nature of increases recently that’s hurt a lot of households.
“We’ve been smashed by those repeated interest rate rises, fuel prices are soaring to new highs, we’re being slugged more to power our homes, and rents are also going up. Coupled with higher prices at the checkout, it’s easy to understand why so many people are feeling under pressure financially.
“While people may be shocked by rising prices in the shopping aisles, they may not realise that it’s costing more to make or produce the goods we buy, the cost of transporting goods from one place to another increases and, in some cases, there are other factors at play like supply chain issues or natural disasters, which can also impact the availability and cost of goods and ingredients.
“As we’ve seen just recently, some items like broccoli have soared past $11 a kilo, which is being blamed on wild weather impacting crops and reducing the amount of the vegetable available.”
He said Compare the Market had been tracking the price of 29 grocery staples since 2021 and found that in that time, the shopping trolley total increased 29.23 per cent, or $66.50, for the same items.
Inflation cooling but prices won't drop yet
“In fact, the same 29 items which now cost $309.60 at the major supermarkets, but cost just $243.10 three years ago,” Ford said. “That said, inflation has started to cool, and all indications are that it will continue to head in the right direction.
“But it’s important to note that falling inflation doesn’t mean that prices will automatically drop. It can take time to see these lower costs reflected at the grocery stores or for our other goods and services.
“Even amid the cost-of-living crisis like the one we’re currently experiencing, it’s important for Australians to vote with their wallet and not throw away their money needlessly.”
Top tips for spending less at the supermarket
Don’t pay a higher price if you don’t need to. Check catalogues for discounts or try to substitute a brand-named item for a generic one. You can also split up your shop across multiple stores.
If you're using reward cards, ensure you "boost" within the apps to maximise the points or rewards you can earn. Also, some programs allow you to pay for a membership, which boasts greater perks or extra points.
Check insurance policies, energy plans, mobile phone deals and more. You may be entitled to hidden rewards and discounts, such as earning points that you can redeem within special reward stores.
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