Australia’s inflation crisis captured in one 'shocking' supermarket photo
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It’s no secret that the last year has been a financially tough time for Australians, with basic expenses climbing higher than ever.
And it turns out that the rising cost of living is having a particular effect on one of our most beloved snacks – chips.
A recent photo taken at a Coles supermarket drove home the harsh reality of the inflation crisis in Australia, highlighting the nation's struggle with increasing food prices.
In the photo, Coles was selling two bags of Kettle chips at a ‘special’ price of $11 – which many shoppers have labelled as ‘a joke’.
Chip prices have soared in recent months due to low crop numbers and rising production costs.
Global investment bank UBS confirms that prices of dry food items have risen by a hefty 9.4 per cent in the last 12 months, with chips experiencing an astonishing 40 per cent price increase.
These figures come from collated data tracked from over 60,000 items at Australia’s biggest supermarkets, ALDI, Coles, and Woolworths.
The price increases left Australians ‘shocked’, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment about the cost of a snack that once sold for around $3 per 165g bag.
Melbourne woman, Letisha Malakooti, shared her disbelief in a recent video, saying, ‘Literally shocked, I asked the staff at Coles six times if this was right…’ she said in a recent video posted on her social media page.
‘Two packets of chips for $11, I thought, “Maybe it's wrong”, but the next one is two packets of chips for $11 too. Since when? What happened to the dollar thirty-five packets?’ She continued.
‘Anyway, I spoke to him, and it’s not wrong. That is the price. I seriously think Coles has messed up.’
Letisha also asked her viewers if anyone could explain ‘what is going on here’, which prompted many social media users to share their own experiences with the current economic situation of the country.
‘Yeah, I nearly had a heart attack really when Woolies wanted over $6 for Kettle chips,’ one wrote.
While someone else agreed and said: ‘I hear you. It’s ridiculous! I’ve seen another packet for $10. It’s a joke.’
‘It’s insane that the chips are so expensive,’ another commented.
You can watch her video below:
Woolworths explained earlier this year that ‘poor growing conditions’ resulted in not enough potatoes being produced to meet consumer demands. This also caused the prices to soar.
As of writing, Coles has yet to release a statement regarding the matter.
Snack Brands Australia CEO Paul Musgrave revealed that rising manufacturing costs have pushed up the prices of some of the nation's favourite snacks.
Musgrave estimates that the price rise will be ‘somewhere like 30 to 50 cents a bag of potato chips’.
‘We’re going to have to take a price rise early in the new year to cover the cost of gas and also the agricultural products that we buy – like corn and potatoes – because all those things have skyrocketed as well,’ Musgrave explained.
A Woolworths spokesperson stated that they are currently selling a 165g bag of Kettle chips for $3.60 as part of their special deals promotion.
‘Value is more important to our customers than ever, and that's why we offer around 6,000 specials every week,’ the spokesperson said, acknowledging the role of supermarkets in these challenging times.
‘Right now, a range of Kettle chips are on special for $3.60 – which we know will come in handy for long weekend entertaining,’ they added.
Unfortunately, rising prices affect more than just snacks. The impact of inflation looms over the entire cost of living, reminding us of the importance of practical financial planning, as well as finding ways to manage our budgets.
Have you experienced any unfair rises in the cost of your groceries lately? Do you still buy chips? Share your thoughts about this story and your own experiences in the comments.
And it turns out that the rising cost of living is having a particular effect on one of our most beloved snacks – chips.
A recent photo taken at a Coles supermarket drove home the harsh reality of the inflation crisis in Australia, highlighting the nation's struggle with increasing food prices.
In the photo, Coles was selling two bags of Kettle chips at a ‘special’ price of $11 – which many shoppers have labelled as ‘a joke’.
Chip prices have soared in recent months due to low crop numbers and rising production costs.
A current Coles ‘special deal’ left shoppers confused. Credit: Srattha Nualsate/Pexels
Global investment bank UBS confirms that prices of dry food items have risen by a hefty 9.4 per cent in the last 12 months, with chips experiencing an astonishing 40 per cent price increase.
These figures come from collated data tracked from over 60,000 items at Australia’s biggest supermarkets, ALDI, Coles, and Woolworths.
The price increases left Australians ‘shocked’, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment about the cost of a snack that once sold for around $3 per 165g bag.
Melbourne woman, Letisha Malakooti, shared her disbelief in a recent video, saying, ‘Literally shocked, I asked the staff at Coles six times if this was right…’ she said in a recent video posted on her social media page.
Letisha said she thinks Coles’ promotion is ‘messed up’. Credit: Letisha Malakooti/TikTok
‘Two packets of chips for $11, I thought, “Maybe it's wrong”, but the next one is two packets of chips for $11 too. Since when? What happened to the dollar thirty-five packets?’ She continued.
‘Anyway, I spoke to him, and it’s not wrong. That is the price. I seriously think Coles has messed up.’
Letisha also asked her viewers if anyone could explain ‘what is going on here’, which prompted many social media users to share their own experiences with the current economic situation of the country.
‘Yeah, I nearly had a heart attack really when Woolies wanted over $6 for Kettle chips,’ one wrote.
While someone else agreed and said: ‘I hear you. It’s ridiculous! I’ve seen another packet for $10. It’s a joke.’
‘It’s insane that the chips are so expensive,’ another commented.
You can watch her video below:
Woolworths explained earlier this year that ‘poor growing conditions’ resulted in not enough potatoes being produced to meet consumer demands. This also caused the prices to soar.
As of writing, Coles has yet to release a statement regarding the matter.
Snack Brands Australia CEO Paul Musgrave revealed that rising manufacturing costs have pushed up the prices of some of the nation's favourite snacks.
Musgrave estimates that the price rise will be ‘somewhere like 30 to 50 cents a bag of potato chips’.
‘We’re going to have to take a price rise early in the new year to cover the cost of gas and also the agricultural products that we buy – like corn and potatoes – because all those things have skyrocketed as well,’ Musgrave explained.
In a post on Reddit, the same chips brand is revealed to have a price of $7.20 when not discounted. Credit: Reddit
A Woolworths spokesperson stated that they are currently selling a 165g bag of Kettle chips for $3.60 as part of their special deals promotion.
‘Value is more important to our customers than ever, and that's why we offer around 6,000 specials every week,’ the spokesperson said, acknowledging the role of supermarkets in these challenging times.
‘Right now, a range of Kettle chips are on special for $3.60 – which we know will come in handy for long weekend entertaining,’ they added.
Unfortunately, rising prices affect more than just snacks. The impact of inflation looms over the entire cost of living, reminding us of the importance of practical financial planning, as well as finding ways to manage our budgets.
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. Be prepared for higher prices next month when Electricity prices rise 25% and the Minimum Wage rises too. btw Not saying I think workers on min. wage don’t deserve more. 
Watch as more restaurants, coffee shops etc have to close as fewer people eat out. 
