(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Sun-mi = A survey found that rice prices have risen by 30% over the past year on online shopping malls.
The Consumer Citizens' Association announced on the 6th the results of a survey on 63 rice products sold on the online malls of three large discount stores (E-Mart, Lotte Mart, Homeplus), Coupang, and Market Kurly.
The average selling price of rice on online shopping malls last month in the third week was 4,830 won per kg, a 30% increase from the price in the third week of October last year (3,138 won).
By volume, 10 kg products rose 25% over the past year, and 20 kg products rose 43%.
The price increase rate of "mixed rice" products (based on 10 kg), which were relatively inexpensive and perceived as practical, reached 48%.
In contrast, the price increase rate of single-variety rice, which tends to be more expensive than mixed rice, was 12% based on 10 kg products.
A representative of the Consumer Citizens' Association explained, "It has been found that the burden on consumers looking for affordable rice on online shopping malls has increased."
Additionally, in a survey on rice consumption conducted by the Citizens' Association and the Rural Research Institute on 500 female consumers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, 42.4% of the respondents cited "changes in dietary habits replacing rice with bread and noodles" as the reason for the decrease in rice consumption.
88.6% responded that they purchase and consume mixed grains along with rice. The most popular mixed grains among purchasers were brown rice (51.2% with multiple responses), beans (33.6%), and barley (28.8%).
When asked about the rice purchase location, 49.2% responded "online shopping mall," which was more than offline stores (42.0%), and the most common purchase volume was 10 kg (63.0%).
Among the considerations for purchasing rice, the origin ranked first (4.59 points out of 5), followed by the milling date (freshness, 4.35 points), texture (4.25 points), etc., while price (4.14 points) ranked sixth.
sun@yna.co.kr