Carrefour outlet investigated for sharp rise in vegetable prices
An official with the law enforcement team of the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation makes an inspection at Carrefour.
An outlet of Carrefour is being investigated for steeply marking up vegetable prices during the coronavirus outbreak, Shanghai's market watchdog said on Wednesday.
Prices for a variety of vegetables sold at the Xuhui branch of Carrefour had soared several times above normal levels, the law enforcement team of the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation found on Tuesday.
Specifically, the price of lettuce surged to 19.8 yuan (US$2.85) per box, up from 2.5 yuan regularly; while Chinese cabbage was sold at 19.55 yuan per 300 grams, compared with a regular price of 3.87 yuan, the administration said.
The price of Chinese greens also soared to 18.33 yuan per package, up from 4.26 yuan previously, according to the administration, which also noticed similarly sharp increases on other vegetables.
The supermarket was found changing the prices on Tuesday morning, the administration said.
It was ordered to rectify such irregularities immediately, and to set vegetable prices back to average levels prior to the pneumonia outbreak.
Continued investigation is underway, the administration said.
Market watchdogs in Shanghai are cracking down on vendors who gouge consumers or stockpile products.
Customers can report infractions at the tip-off hotline 12315.
An official with the law enforcement team of the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation makes an inspection at Carrefour.
