Groceries have become more expensive at all four of Australia’s major supermarket chains, with the average price of a basket of essentials rising by 7% between March and June, according to a new analysis. The consumer advocacy group Choice released its 10th quarterly government-funded survey of supermarket prices, which it conducted by filling a basket with eight common grocery items at 104 different stores in June. The basket included milk, royal gala apples, strawberries, bananas, potatoes, avocado, basmati rice, and beef mince. Across Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, and IGA, the total cost of these items increased by $2.79, from an average of $40.83 to $43.62. The survey was released as the Reserve Bank was expected to deliver its fourth interest rate hike of 2026 in an effort to control inflation. While the official inflation measure, the consumer price index, rose by 0.6% in the March-to-June quarter, food prices increased more sharply. Choice found that about half of the overall increase was due to strawberries, which became 37% more expensive, rising from $4.68 to $6.41 on average. Prices for mince, milk, and avocados also increased, while apples and basmati rice became cheaper. The grocery basket saw the largest increase at IGA, with prices rising by 11% from $45.42 in March to $50.42 in June. Aldi followed with an 8% increase, bringing the average basket cost up to $40.10 from $37.14. Despite these increases, Aldi still had the cheapest average basket. Coles saw a 6% increase, with the basket averaging $42.54 in June, while Woolworths had the smallest increase, with prices rising just 2% to $40.95. In addition to the main basket, Choice also examined a “spotlight basket” of 10 items typically bought on a health-focused shopping trip. These included baby spinach, broccoli, chicken breast, and rolled oats. Aldi again offered the best value for this basket, with a total cost of $28.79. Woolworths and Coles had higher prices, while IGA had the most expensive basket at $42.27. The survey was conducted by mystery shoppers at 27 Woolworths, 27 Coles, 23 Aldi, and 27 IGA stores. The Albanese government has funded Choice to conduct these quarterly grocery price surveys since 2024 as part of its cost-of-living initiatives. Two more reports are scheduled under the agreement, and these will be the first conducted after new laws against “price gouging” came into effect on 1 July.