KUALA LUMPUR: The Price Catcher mobile application, developed by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, is helping consumers compare prices of daily essentials conveniently at their fingertips.
The app enables users to plan and manage their daily expenses by comparing prices of essential items across various supermarkets and selected retail premises nationwide.
A check by Bernama at several supermarkets around the federal capital found the prices displayed on Price Catcher to be consistent with actual prices at the premises, proving the app’s reliability.
However, slight price variations were observed at certain wet markets, especially in the evenings, as some traders lowered prices to clear out perishable stock.
A user, Zaid Zufri, 42, said the app has been useful in helping him plan his daily spending.
“Before coming here, I checked the price of eggs and found a tray being sold for RM12.60 the same price shown in the app. Imported onions were just RM2.90 per kg, which is cheaper compared to other places,” he said at a supermarket in Taman Maluri.
For housewife Syahida Ariffin, 45, the app is especially helpful in tracking the prices of controlled items such as cooking oil and chicken, which tend to fluctuate.
“Price Catcher shows the lowest prices at nearby supermarkets and wet markets. I always check the app first before deciding where to shop, and I can save between RM15 and RM30 each time,” she said.
Launched in March 2019, Price Catcher currently displays the prices of 480 selected items, which are monitored regularly by KPDN at various premises, including wet markets, hypermarkets, mini markets and grocery stores.
