FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, April 16, 2000
| Contact: | Sunny Mindel/Mary Lasher 212-788-2958 |
| Kevin Ortiz (DCA) 212/487-4329 |
Prices Down 2% from Last Year - 3% In Weeks Leading Up to Passover
Staten Island Has Lowest Prices All Five Boroughs
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jane S. Hoffman today announced the average prices of Passover foods have shown an overall decline of three percent in the weeks leading up to Passover, according to results from the 16th annual Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Passover Market Basket Survey. The survey also found that prices for Passover products have fallen two percent from the same period last year.
Mayor Giuliani said, “Each year the Department of Consumer Affairs arms shoppers with the latest information on prices for Passover staples. When preparing for the Passover Seder, we encourage New Yorkers to bring along the Department of Consumer Affair’s survey when shopping for their groceries.”
“This year’s survey found that store owners did not drive up prices in the weeks leading up to Passover. In fact, overall, prices for most products are down citywide,” the Mayor continued. “This survey is good news for the consumer.”
Commissioner Hoffman said, “Our survey found that Staten Island has the best prices and Manhattan shoppers will have to dip into their wallets. The Department of Consumer Affairs will continue to monitor prices throughout the Passover holiday to ensure that prices remain stable.”
The survey recorded prices at 94 food stores in five boroughs – including supermarkets, independent retailers, and meat and fish markets. The survey compared prices of such Passover staples as gefilte fish, matzoh, macaroons and other foods commonly purchased during the holiday. An initial survey was conducted in February and DCA inspectors returned to the same stores from March 28 through April 3 to document price changes on the same items.
SUMMARY PASSOVER BASKET SURVEY FINDINGS
Price comparisons were based on individual store "market baskets" comprised of the following commonly purchased Passover foods:
|
Gefilte Fish 24 oz. |
Tuna Fish 6 oz. |
Am. Hard Cheese 12 oz. |
|
Apple Sauce 35 oz. |
Ex. Lg. Eggs 1 dz. |
Cottage Cheese 16 oz. |
|
Grape Juice 22 oz. |
Cooking Oil 48 oz. |
Matzoh 5 lbs. |
|
Apple Juice 64 oz. |
Sugar 5 lbs. |
Macaroons 10 oz. |
|
Strawberry Jam 12 oz. |
Cider Vinegar 16 oz. |
Matzoh Meal 6 oz. |
|
Salad Dressing 8 oz. |
Horseradish Sauce 6 oz. |
|
Mayonnaise 16 oz. |
Potato Starch 12 oz. |
|
Borscht 32 oz. |
Butter 8 oz. |
Market Basket Survey - Average Prices
February, 2000 vs. March, 2000***
| Feb. ’00 | March ‘00 | % Change | |
| Supermarket | $41.25 | $38.96 | - 6% |
| Independent Grocers | $36.47 | $36.93 | + 1 % |
| Average Cost | $39.52 | $38.22 | - 3% |
*** Please note: costs do not include the items matzoh, matzoh meal, and macaroons.
Market Basket Survey - Average Prices
1999 vs. 2000***
| March ’99 | March ‘00 | % Change | |
| Supermarket | $51.32 | $50.30 | - 4% |
| Independent Grocers | $51.26 | $50.19 | - 2% |
| Average Cost | $51.15 | $50.00 | - 2% |
*** Please note: The yearly comparison includes matzoh, matzoh meal, and macaroons. The Passover survey is a weighted average based on the total number of stores surveyed.
2000 Market Basket Survey - Average Prices Citywide
Borough Supermarket Basket Averages
Staten Island $43.72
Brooklyn $45.29
Bronx $47.71
Queens $50.58
Manhattan $57.99
Consumers will, on average, see a greater price cut at supermarkets for their Passover items. For example, while the average price for grape juice at independent grocers dipped two percent from $1.91 to $1.87 in the weeks leading up to Passover, prices plummeted twenty percent in supermarkets, dropping from $2.00 to $1.61 in that same period.
The average price for a five pound box of matzoh remains unchanged from last year’s prices at $6.11 at both supermarkets and independent stores. Consumers shopping at supermarkets will find gefilte fish six percent less expensive than last year, and forty percent less expensive from February to March.
In light of the Passover holiday, Consumer Affairs also surveyed the prices of various types of meats and fish, including an “11-item market basket” and a “4-item fish basket.” The survey found that the price for the meat basket went from $61.37 in February to $63.12 in March, a two percent increase for the price of meats and the fish basket rose 7.68% from $14.68 in February to $15.80 in March. The average price for the meat basket was three percent over last year’s Passover prices and the fish basket fell two percent from the same period last year.
Today's announcement was held at the Pathmark Supermarket at 227 Cherry Street, the supermarket with the lowest priced market basket in Manhattan.
Click here to obtain a copy of DCA's 2000 Passover Survey or please call DCA's Consumer Hotline at 212-487-4444.
www.ci.nyc.ny.us