Stores cut prices to keep
customers

Supermarkets are keeping shoppers spending at their checkouts by slashing prices on products and cutting waiting times at the tills, according to a new survey.

All the major supermarkets have lowered prices, with the average weekly basket price coming in at £55.18 in the last six months of 2009, compared to £57.87 in the same period last year. 

Asda is the cheapest supermarket chain, with its average basket £1.54 a week cheaper than its nearest rival Tesco.

Every retailer except Tesco improved queue times and Waitrose provided the fastest service, with shoppers spending an average of five minutes and 10 seconds at the tills.

The results are compiled in a six-month review published in The Grocer.

The magazine's editor Adam Leyland said: "All of the supermarkets delivered for their customers in the last six months - queues got shorter, shelves were fuller and baskets were cheaper than this time last year.

"It goes to show how hard retailers are having to work to keep hard-pressed shoppers spending at the checkouts."

Copyright © Press Association 2009
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