Mackay shoppers furious with Coles, Woolworths rising prices

Queensland shoppers have spoken out about the impact of grocery prices going through the roof. See what they had to say in our video survey.

Mackay shoppers are baffled by their grocery bills as prices shoot up across Australia and the cost-of-living crisis has no end in sight.

We spoke to 20 shoppers about how their bills compared to what they would have spent 12 months ago and the results were bleak.

Jessie May believes her groceries cost $20 more than they would have 12 months ago. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“Everything's pretty much doubled in price,” said Jessie May from South Mackay at the Sydney St coles.

“It cost me $70, last year it would have maybe cost $50!”

The responses we got reflect the exasperation of shoppers who have been subjected to a tight Christmas, and now the mistreatment of farmers by companies like Woolworths and Coles.

Mackay shopper Patrick is baffled by the price of his groceries. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“(They’re) letting the farmers down and they’re letting us down,” said Patrick from South Mackay, who had been shocked by the cost of his supplementary shop.

“Prune juice, eggs, coat hangers and mushrooms for $50.

“That supplements my big grocery buy from Thursday.

“I’m single and paying $150 a fortnight for groceries.

“It’s a crime.”

Mackay region residents have been under extreme pressure in recent years, particularly renters who are facing one of the lowest vacancy rates in Mackay’s history and general housing scarcity.

Financial planning service Finder has found that roughly one in three Australians will struggle with back to school costs going into the school year.

Zane, a father from North Mackay, ended up spending over $180 on fruit, vegetables, meat and back to school supplies.

“That’s about $180 for four bags,”

He said his shop would have been at least $60 cheaper 12 months ago.

While Mackay shoppers hope for a reprieve, the Royal Bank of Australia mission of easing inflation back to the standard 2 per cent seems to be proceeding at a snail's pace.

Christine is a single mother of six and has used some colourful language to describe the current prices. Photo: Fergus Gregg

On December 5 the Reserve Bank of Australia announced that interest rates would remain unchanged at 4.35 per cent.

In the meantime Mackay shoppers hope for a cheaper alternative in the Aldi at Andergrove, however when asked for an update on when they’ll be opening, an Aldi spokesman said there was “no update.”

“I just got a couple of things and that was $38,” said Slade Point mother-of-six Christine.

“It’s sh*t.

“I’m a single mum of six and the cost of living is shocking.”