Frydenberg warns on ‘opportunistic’ price increases

Ronald Mizen and Carrie LaFrenz

Mar 14, 2022 – 6.13pm

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Already a subscriber?

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg warned businesses against forcing through opportunistic price hikes as a leading retail analyst said shoppers faced increases of 10 per cent-plus on a range of goods in coming weeks.

Coles and Woolworths on Monday left open the door to rejecting fruit and vegetable manufacturer SPC’s plans to increase the price of its products by 10 to 20 per cent, potentially setting the scene for protracted negotiations over who bears the hit from growing inflationary pressures.

Ronald Mizen is the Financial Review’s political correspondent, reporting from the press gallery at Parliament House, Canberra.

Carrie LaFrenz is a senior journalist covering retail/consumer goods. She previously covered healthcare/biotech. Carrie has won multiple awards for her journalism including financial journalist of the year from The National Press Club.