Release #099-01

 

Contact:	Sunny Mindel/ Lynn Rasic	(212) 788-2958
	John Radziejewski (DCA)	(212) 487-4283

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jane S. Hoffman today announced that the average prices of Passover foods has increased 5% since last year, according to the annual Department of Consumer Affairs Passover Survey.

"Each year the Department of Consumer Affairs arms shoppers with the latest information on prices for Passover staples," Mayor Giuliani said. "When preparing for the Passover Seder, we encourage New Yorkers to bring along the Department of Consumer Affairs price cards while shopping for groceries."

"This year's survey found that prices for Passover products increased 5% from last year, but fell 3.4% in the weeks leading up to Passover," the Mayor said. "By shopping around, you can avoid rising prices for your Passover purchases."

"This year's survey found that Staten Island has the lowest prices, while Manhattan stores charge the highest prices -- 24% higher than Staten Island," Commissioner Hoffman said. "The Department of Consumer Affairs will continue to monitor prices throughout the Passover holiday to ensure that consumers are charged fair prices."

This year's survey recorded the prices at 68 food stores in five boroughs -- including supermarkets, independent retailers, and meat and fish markets. The survey compared prices of such Passover staples as gefilte fish, matzo, macaroons and other foods commonly purchased during the holiday. An initial survey was conducted in February, and DCA inspectors returned to the same stores from March 16 through March 20 to document price changes on the same items.

The survey found a 5% increase from last year, a slightly larger rate of increase from the inflation rate of 3.75%. According to the Orthodox Union, an organization that certifies products Kosher for Passover, inflated costs of natural cane sugar and cottonseed oil may account for higher prices for some items.

20-Item Market Basket Survey - Average Prices
March 2000 vs. March 2001

17-Item Market Basket Survey - Average Prices
February 2001 vs. March 2001

2001 Market Basket Survey - Average Prices
Citywide

A "Market Basket" Includes:

Consumers may see a greater price cut at supermarkets for their Passover items. For example, while the average price for gefilte fish at independent grocers increased 4% from $3.74 to $3.90 in the weeks leading up to Passover, prices plummeted 51% in supermarkets, falling from $4.09 to $2.02 during the same period.

Consumer Affairs also surveyed the prices of various types of meat and fish products commonly used during Passover, including a "10-item meat basket" and a "4-item fish basket." The survey found that the price of the meat basket rose from $64.54 in February to $66.51 in March, a 3% increase in prices. The fish basket showed the opposite results, with prices falling 9.58% from $15.88 in February to $14.36 in March. The average meat basket price rose 7% from last years Passover prices and the fish basket fell 2% during the same time.

Today's announcement was held at Streit's Matzo Factory at 150 Rivington Street in Manhattan.