It costs what now? 79% of Australians accuse supermarkets of price gouging
Key takeaways
- The average household says they spend $207 per week on groceries.
- 39% of Aussies list their groceries as a top source of bill stress.
- 4% of Aussies said supermarkets have never engaged in price gouging.
Australians have delivered a damning verdict on the nation's supermarket giants, according to new research by Finder.
Â
A Finder survey of 1,003 respondents revealed 79% of Australians believe they are being price gouged at the checkout.
Â
Just 4% of Australians said supermarkets have never engaged in price gouging, and a further 4% believe they were gouging previously but have since stopped.
Â
More than 1 in 10 (12%) say they are unsure.
Â
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said consumers have lost faith that pricing is fair.
Â
"The majority of Aussies believe they are being ripped off when they buy their groceries.
Â
"It's an extraordinary level of distrust for an essential service that every household relies on multiple times a week."
Â
The average Australian household reports spending $207 per week on groceries in April 2026, according to data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker (CST). That's up from $189 in April 2024.
Â
Unsurprisingly, parents report spending more on groceries. Parents report spending $274 per week on groceries for their household in April, compared to $171 for those without children.
Â
Megginson said rising food costs over recent years have left shoppers hyper-aware of every dollar spent.
Â
"When people see supermarket profits reported in the hundreds of millions – or even billions – while they're cutting back on basics because a tub of butter is $7, it creates a perception that something isn't right."
Â
Groceries are a major source of bill stress for Australians, according to data from Finder's CST.
Â
Almost 2 in 5 (39%) Australians listed their groceries as one of their top 3 most stressful expenses in April. This is followed by rent/mortgage repayments (37%), petrol (27%), and energy bills (24%).
Â
Megginson said regardless of where consumers sit on the debate, household budgets are under pressure.
Â
"Grocery spending is one of the most stressful weekly expenses for most families."
Â
Megginson said while shoppers may feel powerless at the checkout, there are still practical ways to take back control of their grocery bill.
Â
"You can't control supermarket pricing, but you can control where and how you shop.
Â
"Comparing unit prices can be a game changer. This means comparing the same size of two products, 100g vs 100g, so you can choose the best value.
Â
"Switching between retailers, buying home brands, shopping the half-price specials strategically and buying in bulk can make a meaningful difference over the course of a year too."
Â
Do you think supermarkets are price gouging?
| They have been and still are | 72% |
| They weren't but now they are | 7% |
| They were but not anymore | 4% |
| They never have | 4% |
| I don't know | 12% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,003 respondents, January 2026 |  |
Â
Credits
- PR & Insights research team: Taylor Blackburn, Kate Boddington, Natascha Kwiet-Evans, William Capada
- Survey operation: Qualtrics
Sources
Ask a question