Competition watchdog chairman Gina Cass-Gottlieb says consumers think supermarket prices and profits are “unreasonable” and pledged to crack down on anticompetitive behaviour that raises the cost of living.

“In supermarket pricing, undoubtedly consumers are saying that they see that there are unreasonable levels of prices and unreasonable profits,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said ahead of a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia on Thursday outlining the regulator’s priorities for the next 12 months.