The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stepped up its calls for deregulated trading hours as Perth is revealed as the second most expensive capital for food and groceries.
The CCI claims that a basket of groceries purchased in Perth will cost a shopper nearly $260, $15 dearer than what shopper would have to pay in Sydney and $12 more expensive than Brisbane and Melbourne.
Darwin was the only capital city that beat Perth in the grocery price stakes.
The CCI used nearly released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
CCI said the basket has cost more in Perth than any of the other states in every quarterly survey bar one since the ABS began monitoring prices in December 2004.
The claim by the industry body comes ahead of an inquiry into grocery prices by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to be handed to the federal government later today.
"CCI believes one of the biggest barriers to lower prices is the State's highly restrictive and anti-competitive retail trading hours laws," CCI said.
"Reform of the State's retail sector will deliver many benefits to the community including increased choice, convenience and lower prices.
"CCI calls on the State's political leaders to deliver bipartisan support for fully deregulated trading hours at the next state election."
