The Market Basket Survey (MBS) is a survey of the costs, availability and quality of basic food items in remote stores in the Northern Territory (NT). The 2016 survey is the seventeenth annual survey in the NT. Results presented here are from the 2016 survey and some trend data from previous years.
2016 regional comparison of costs to feed a family of six for a fortnight
Darwin Nhulunbuy
Katherine
Tennant Creek
Alice Springs
District Centre Community Surveyed Legend
District remote store average
Darwin district
Healthy Food Basket $806 Current Diet Basket $889
East Arnhem district Healthy Food Basket $823 Current Diet Basket $929
Katherine district
Healthy Food Basket $802 Current Diet Basket $877
Alice Springs district
Healthy Food Basket $860 Current Diet Basket $906 Barkly district
Healthy Food Basket $895 Current Diet Basket $922 67 remote stores
were surveyed across the NT
(East Arnhem district)
(Barkly district)
NT remote store average
Healthy Food Basket $833 Current Diet Basket $898
Northern Territory Market Basket Survey Summary Report 2016
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
What’s in the survey?
The MBS includes two food baskets:
Healthy Food Basket
Based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Current Diet Basket
Based on the latest survey data of the dietary patterns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
Both baskets will feed a family of six for a fortnight.
Bread and cereals Fruit
Vegetables
Meat and alternatives Dairy
Other foods#
Total basket cost (for a fortnight) Takeaway*
$898
$101
$110
$54
$222
$89
$242
$81
$833
$111
$141
$167
$225
$169
$4
$16
Remote stores Remote stores
15%
more in district centre supermarkets ($694 compared to $606).6%
more in district corner stores ($754 compared to $710).8%
more in remote stores ($898 compared to $833).A healthy diet costs less
Compared to a Healthy Food Basket, the Current Diet Basket costs more.
$644
$104
$132
$154
$140
$103
$5
$7 Darwin supermarket
$705
$91
$104
$46
$160
$60
$184
$60 Darwin supermarket
Cost of food baskets in 2016
Current Diet Basket
BEEFBEEF BEEFBEEF
BEEFBEEFBEEF
Instant Noodles BEEF
Healthy Food Basket
Takeaway* Includes hot foods (pie and chips) and cold drinks (cola and bottled water), if these items are not available from within the supermarket, the price is collected from a food outlet within the same complex.
Other foods#includes margarine, sugar, oil, biscuits and cordial base.
The baskets are costed in remote stores, and a major supermarket and corner store (small supermarket) in each district centre.
In remote stores information is also collected on:
• variety and quality of fresh fruit and vegetables • availabilty of healthy foods
• store information such as store management type and Aboriginal employment.
Remote store characteristics
58%
of employees were Aboriginal. The proportion of Aboriginal employees was highest in stores that were either owned (79%) or managed (78%) by a store group (e.g. ALPA and Outback Stores).of stores had a 69%
store committee
of stores had a 57%
nutrition policy Ownership not known Privately owned/leased
Owned or manged by store group Owned by community
Who owns the store?
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Fruit Vegetable
2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Fruit and vegetables
Average number of varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables in remote stores from 2000-2016.
83%
of fresh fruit were rated to be of good quality in the 2016 survey.81%
of fresh vegetables were rated to be of good quality in the 2016 survey.6%
37%
39%
18%
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1000
Darwin supermarket -expected Darwin supermarket - actual Remote stores - expected Remote stores average - actual
2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
In remote stores the actual cost of the Healthy Food Basket has been similar to the expected cost of the basket using annual Consumer Price Index rates, except in 2011 and 2016 when the actual cost was notably higher than expected. In the Darwin supermarket the actual cost was above the expected cost between 2006 and 2009 and in 2016.
Cost of Healthy Food Basket since 2000
Actual cost of the Healthy Food Basket compared with expected cost of the healthy food basket.
Discussion and conclusions
The 2016 MBS is the seventeenth annual survey of remote community stores in the Northern Territory, it is the first year the Current Diet Basket has been included for comparison.
Results from the 2016 survey showed that the average cost of the Current Diet Basket was more expensive than the Healthy Food Basket in all disticts and all store types. The average cost of the Healthy Food Basket in remote stores was 29% higher than in a Darwin supermarket.
Compared to 2015, the average cost of the Healthy Food Basket increased by 4% in remote stores and 5% in district centre supermarkets.
Positive trends are emerging from the MBS results, particularly regarding the availability and variety of some healthy foods. For example, the number of varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables has increased from the first survey in 2000 (see graph on previous page).
Some limitations to the survey include:
- Store managers were given prior notice of the survey period, which may have influenced store prices and availbility during the survey period.
- The food baskets contain only a relatively small number of items (41). Significant changes in the price of one or two items may have an unduly inflated effect on the total cost of the basket.
- The survey is conducted over a three month period. During this time frame there is the potential for large variations in the prices of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- The same brand and pack size for each item is not always available in each store. When that is the case, similar items of a different brand or pack size may have to priced.
- The survey does not necessarily include the same stores each year.
More details on the food basket and survey methodology can be found in the full 2016 NT Market Basket Survey report (available at https://health.nt.gov.au/professionals/nutrition-and-physical-activity).
