31 October 2026 · Issue 153
Shoppers Split the Weekly Shop
If your Saturday shop now takes in two or three stores, an app and a loyalty card, you are not alone. Coles says that is exactly how Australians are buying groceries this spring, and it has just told the market it will spend more on lower prices to win them back before Christmas.
Today’s brief leads on Coles’ first quarter sales results and what its price push could mean for your weekend trolley, then covers a plant sensor sold at Bunnings that has been recalled over button battery warnings, the latest inflation figures ahead of Tuesday’s Reserve Bank decision, and a Halloween shopping note. The retailer offers later in this issue are a separate, freshly verified selection from a disclosed partial scan.
Coles says shoppers are splitting the weekly shop
Coles Group told the ASX on 30 October that supermarket sales revenue rose 3.6 per cent to $10.32 billion in the 13 weeks to 27 September, with comparable sales up 2.7 per cent, compared with 4.6 per cent a year earlier. Online supermarket sales grew 22.9 per cent and now make up 15.7 per cent of supermarket sales, while liquor sales fell 1.3 per cent to $831 million. Coles said customers remained value conscious, with continued cross shopping across retailers and channels and more use of promotions and loyalty programs, and that Flybuys points redeemed at Coles rose 16 per cent after it introduced Pay with Points.
The outlook was the bigger news for shoppers. Coles said cost of living pressures and elevated competitor promotional activity had continued in the first four weeks of the second quarter, that supermarket sales growth had moderated, and that it was making targeted investments in value, including the recent relaunch of its Every Day Price program and its largest ever Exclusive to Coles Christmas range. Together with higher fuel related costs, it now expects first half supermarket earnings to be in line with last year. “We know household budgets are under pressure and customers are shopping more deliberately across retailers and channels,” managing director and chief executive Leah Weckert said in the release.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Millie Muroi reported that the update wiped about $3.5 billion off Coles’ market value in early trading. Ms Weckert told a media call that customers were “really seeking out value now by buying more specials, and they’re using their loyalty points”, and that young families and younger shoppers were increasingly using AI tools, price comparison apps and social media to work out where the cheapest place to buy things was. She named grapes and berries, tomatoes, corn, baby broccoli, eggs and vitamins as items currently in price deflation. Citi analyst Adrian Lemme told the Herald that supermarket sales had clearly been affected by Woolworths’ pricing strategies.
AAP reported that Ms Weckert said Coles was “not happy” with momentum in its bricks and mortar stores. “We are continuing to see a really good level of customer count coming through the store, but we’re seeing a lot more splitting of baskets,” she said. AAP reported that Coles shares were down 8 per cent to $21.55 after lunch, that RBC Capital Markets analyst Michael Toner called it “a disappointing update”, and that Woolworths had earlier this week reported a 6.9 per cent rise in supermarket sales. Reuters’ Sherin Sunny and Nikita Maria Jino reported that the shares finished the day 7.7 per cent lower at $21.66, their steepest single day fall since March 2020, after falling as much as 12.8 per cent during the session.
For shoppers, a supermarket price fight is good news only if you check it. Before this weekend’s shop, compare unit prices rather than shelf tickets, note which items carry a long term price promise and how long it runs, and look at the produce Coles itself says is cheaper right now. Splitting your shop can save money, but count the extra fuel and time, and check whether points you are chasing are worth more than a lower price at another store.
Plant sensor sold at Bunnings recalled
Yahoo Lifestyle Australia’s Carina Stathis reported on 30 October that the Plant With Willow plant sensor, an indoor gardening device that measures soil moisture, light, temperature and humidity, has been recalled because it does not carry the button battery safety information required in Australia. The recall covers model number 026507 SENSOR S, sold by Plant With Willow and Bunnings nationally and online from November 2023 until early August 2026. The ACCC warns that children who swallow button batteries can suffer choking, severe internal burns or death, and that serious injury can occur within two hours.
Owners will receive an app notice with a button battery warning and battery replacement instructions, as the printed manual does not include them, and can contact Willow at support@plantwithwillow.com.au. If you have small children, store any device with a button battery out of reach and check current recalls at ACCC Product Safety Australia, which lists the Willow plant sensor recall under 29 October. Plant With Willow’s own recall notice (company notice, no byline) says affected sensors were bought between 1 November 2023 and 6 August 2026, and has an updated user guide to download.
Inflation lifts before Tuesday’s rate call
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on 28 October that the Consumer Price Index rose 4.3 per cent in the 12 months to September, up from 4.0 per cent in August, with housing up 5.2 per cent and transport up 8.7 per cent on higher fuel prices. Automotive fuel rose 9.4 per cent in September alone. In the same release, food and non alcoholic drinks were up 3.2 per cent over the year, while clothing and footwear rose just 0.4 per cent and furnishings and household equipment 0.8 per cent.
The Reserve Bank’s published calendar shows its Monetary Policy Board meets on Monday and Tuesday, with the decision due at 2.30pm Sydney time on Tuesday 3 November. For your budget, that means groceries and fuel are where the pressure sits, while clothing and homewares prices have barely moved over the year, so there is less reason to rush those purchases before Black Friday. If you have a variable rate loan, work out now what a further rise would add to your repayments before you plan Christmas spending.
Today’s shopping note
It is Halloween today. If you still need lollies or a costume, use click and collect rather than paying for rushed delivery, and check opening hours before you drive. For the weekly shop, start with the produce in season and on special, and keep receipts if you are comparing stores over a few weeks. Read up to as a range claim, and confirm size, stock and exclusions before paying.
Our scan records unsuccessful checks as well as successful ones. A retailer page being retrieved is not enough to establish that every offer, item or delivery condition has been verified.
Primary reporting sources: Coles Group 2027 First Quarter Sales Results to the ASX, 30 October 2026 (Leah Weckert quoted); The Sydney Morning Herald, Millie Muroi, 30 October 2026 (Leah Weckert and Adrian Lemme quoted); AAP, 30 October 2026, no byline shown (Leah Weckert and Michael Toner quoted); Reuters, Sherin Sunny and Nikita Maria Jino, 30 October 2026 (closing share price); Yahoo Lifestyle Australia, Carina Stathis, 30 October 2026, on an ACCC Product Safety Australia recall; Plant With Willow recall notice (company notice, no byline); Reserve Bank of Australia, Coming Up calendar (meeting dates, no byline); Australian Bureau of Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026, released 28 October 2026. Shopper advice and synthesis by Neil Fairhead for It’s On Sale. Hero photo: Bahnfrend, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Coles Garden City, Booragoon, 2026).
Top 5 Deals of the Day
Five stores. Five categories. The strongest discounts we verified on in stock items, with every price, was price and stock level checked this morning, 31 October.
We attempted all 153 retailer sale URLs in today’s pool and retrieved usable sale content from 119. The remaining pages could not be verified after fallback checks and are excluded. This is a disclosed partial scan, not a complete audit of every Australian retailer. Retrieval does not mean an offer was fully verified: this ranking includes only eligible stores where we confirmed a ticketed sale price against a was price on an item listed as available when checked. Generic sale descriptions, unresolved price evidence and same category duplicates are excluded. Each percentage is the verified example shown, not a discount on every item in store. Offers and stock can change.
Discount
Princess PollyWomen’s FashionSwimwear and fashion sale with deep end of season markdowns. The Nayeli Tie Side Bikini Bottoms in Pink are $3 from $45 (about 93% off), showing in size AU 16 only when checked this morning. Check the shipping cost against a $3 item.93%OFF2
LightspotLightingLighting specials page. The Centric Single Pendant (online only) is $19.99 from a ticketed $249 (about 92% off), listed as available this morning in Black 3000K, Black 5000K and Gold 3000K. Allow for an electrician to install it.92%OFF3
Surf StitchSurf & BeachwearSurf and beachwear sale. The Its Now Cool Soleil One Piece in Catalina is $15 from $180 (about 92% off), showing in size L only when checked this morning. Check the size guide before ordering a single size item.92%OFF4
Ted’s CamerasCameras & Creator GearClearance range. The Joby Wavo Lav Microphone with windscreen is $19.95 from $79.95 (about 75% off), listed as available when checked this morning. Check it suits your phone or camera socket before ordering.75%OFF5
Big Bedding AustraliaBeddingSale products range. The Park Avenue 175 GSM Egyptian Cotton Flannelette Quilt Cover Set in Ditty is $68.83 from $169.95 in Queen (about 59% off), with single to super king sizes listed as available when checked this morning.59%OFF% discounts shown are for the verified example in each card. Individual product savings vary.
One More Category Worth a Look
SUNNYLiFE: with summer weekends ahead, the sale includes the Compact Beach Umbrella in Butternut at $64.99 from $129.99 (about 50% off), listed as available when checked this morning. Check the size and UV rating details on the product page, and add delivery before comparing.