Iceberg lettuce prices plunge but shoppers still cutting back amid cost of living crisis
Supermarket shelf prices are retreating from their mid-year highs, but shoppers struggling with the cost of living continue to steer clear of pricier purchases.
Ritchies IGA CEO Fred Harrison said you could see evidence of shoppers' changing habits by what they left on the shelves.
"We are starting to see changes in the customer basket," he told Today.
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"(We are) seeing people perhaps not buy as much Scotch fillet, porterhouse, and heading towards mincemeat and stewing cuts often used for slow cooking this time of year."
Meat wasn't the only area people are trying to trim their spending.
"We are seeing people buy a lot more generic product, the Black and Gold sales have increased," Harrison said.
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Shoppers are opting for mince over steak.
"We are seeing it across Coles and Woolies, it is across the market."
Nonetheless, improved weather has seen some previously premium-priced items plummet back into the realm of affordability.
Harrison said iceberg lettuces, which had cost as much as $13 a pop just six weeks ago, were back down to $2.49.
Sales of home or own-branded alternative products are booming as shoppers look to reduce their grocery bills. Supplied
But he warned it might not last.
"Obviously, if we get another real bad bout of weather across the east coast of Australia, that will change," he said.
Other fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, spring onions, carrots and broccoli were also on the way down.
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