A Finder survey of 1,003 respondents revealed 79% of Australian shoppers believe they are being price gouged at the supermarket checkout.

4% of Australians said supermarkets have never engaged in price gouging, and a further 4% believe they were gouging previously but have since stopped. More than one in 10 (12%) say they are unsure.

Personal finance expert at Finder Sarah Megginson said consumers have lost faith that pricing is fair.

“The majority of Aussies believe they are being ripped off when they buy their groceries.

“It’s an extraordinary level of distrust for an essential service that every household relies on multiple times a week.”

The average Australian household reports spending $207 per week on groceries in April 2026, according to data from Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker (CST). That’s up from $189 in April 2024.

Parents report spending $274 per week on groceries for their household in April, compared to $171 for those without children.

Ms Megginson said rising food costs over recent years have left shoppers hyper-aware of every dollar spent.

“When people see supermarket profits reported in the hundreds of millions – or even billions – while they’re cutting back on basics because a tub of butter is $7, it creates a perception that something isn’t right.”

Groceries are a major source of bill stress for Australians, according to data from Finder’s CST.

Almost two in five (39%) Australians listed their groceries as one of their top three most stressful expenses in April. This is followed by rent/mortgage repayments (37%), petrol (27%), and energy bills (24%).

Ms Megginson said regardless of where consumers sit on the debate, household budgets are under pressure.

“Grocery spending is one of the most stressful weekly expenses for most families.”

She said while shoppers may feel powerless at the checkout, there are still practical ways to take back control of their grocery bill.

“You can’t control supermarket pricing, but you can control where and how you shop.

“Comparing unit prices can be a game changer. This means comparing the same size of two products, 100g vs 100g, so you can choose the best value.

“Switching between retailers, buying home brands, shopping the half-price specials strategically and buying in bulk can make a meaningful difference over the course of a year too.”