ALT Supermarkets 'public enemy No 1' in cost of living crisis, according to survey New polling from the Australia Institute shows that Australians view the supermarkets as “public enemy No 1” in the cost of living crisis. The Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work surveyed 1,014 voters, and 83% said supermarkets deserve some blame – or a great deal of blame – for the soaring cost of living. It puts the supermarkets ahead of energy companies on 82%, banks at 73%, and the government on 71%. Sixty per cent of voters said groceries had the most notable cost increase – far ahead of the next highest result of utilities at 21%. Sixty-four per cent said they supported increasing supermarket competition. Centre For Future Work senior researcher and report co-author Lisa Heap said the results were “emphatic.”

ALT Australians are pointing the finger squarely at supermarkets as public enemy No 1 in the cost-of-living crisis … More people blame supermarkets for the cost-of-living crunch than governments or banks. The public’s appetite for increased supermarket competition is unmistakable. Nearly two-thirds of voters see it as crucial for alleviating cost-of-living pressures … There’s likely to be political rewards for taking actions that increase supermarket competition. The cost of living crisis means people are spending less on essential services, the survey also found, with 37% spending less on heating/cooling their home, 29% spending less on healthy food and 26% less on seeing a doctor.