ABC15's Phoenix comparisons

[pseudo3d]

https://www.abc15.com/news/smart-shoppe ... st-prices-

ABC15 in Phoenix recently compared Winco, Walmart, Fry's, and Safeway with a 15-item checklist. The cheapest was Winco, the most expensive was Safeway, with Walmart and Fry's falling in between (Walmart being the second cheapest). What was curious to me is how close Safeway and Fry's are. Overall, Safeway had a +$5 difference but nothing outrageous like in some cases, and the differences in Safeway certainly would make it the better choice if you lived closer to one than a Fry's (in terms of driving/time).

The big question I have though is why they are different. Recent trends indicate that Safeway/Albertsons is getting better (slowly) and Kroger is getting worse (more noticeable), so are the close prices more of Albertsons/Safeway's willingness to compete or Kroger raising prices in center store?

[jamcool]

The Safeways on the West side have become dirtier and more understocked since the Albertsons merger. Also, where did Bashas’/Food City end up on this survey?

[SamSpade]

So, I decided to do this comparison in the Portland, Ore. market.
Attached to the Northwest forum.