As part of its mandate to ensure fair pricing in the marketplace, the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry monitors the prices of items at supermarkets in Trinidad. Between 13th to 19th September, 2024, the Consumer Affairs Division (CAD) conducted a retail price survey of one hundred and thirty-two (132) selected items across forty-one (41) supermarkets in twenty-one (21) areas in Trinidad. A similar survey was conducted at eight (8) supermarkets in Tobago by the Consumer Affairs Unit (CAU). The selected products, which are purchased by consumers across all income groups, were derived from a Basket of Goods Survey conducted by the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and are used to monitor prices on a monthly basis.
In the case of chain supermarkets, one or two branches would have been visited, with approvals obtained for prices to be applied across stores. In some instances, minor differences may exist across chains, for some brands, based on stock levels or product expiry.