DLCA survey finds wide grocery-basket price gaps

The V.I. Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs' September 21 supermarket survey found substantial differences between the lowest and highest totals for identical products available at every participating store on each island.

On St. Croix, 97 comparable items totaled $435.71 at Pueblo La Reine and $488.56 at Plaza Extra, a $52.85 spread. On St. Thomas, 91 items totaled $483.98 at Pueblo Subbase and $596.83 at Food Center, a $112.85 spread. On St. John, 46 items totaled $240.60 at Pine Peace Mini Mart and $290.25 at Starfish Market, a $49.65 spread.

The lowest basket total does not mean one store had the lowest price for every product. Shoppers may save more by comparing the specific items they buy most often.

Basket totals should not be compared across islands because each island's survey included a different number and mix of items. Changes from the previous survey also cannot be treated as an inflation measure because product availability changed.