Does it seem like your money is doing a disappearing act? Are you buying the same things, paying for the same services, but at much higher costs?

Well, don't be too quick to blame it solely on the global financial crunch. The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is urging shoppers to be more vigilant in surveying supermarket, department-store and service-station prices.

"During this time, we are asking consumers to be even more vigilant than they were before. We ask that you do shopping around before you actually make your purchase. Compare your prices when you go shopping," advises chief executive officer (CEO) of the CAC, Dolsie Allen, in a Jamaica Information Service interview.

Cheaper prices

"We have been providing information for you on basic food items, and to let you know where the cheaper prices are, in terms of basic food items, in the markets and so on," she went on.

That enticing month-end sale may be just what you have been looking for. However, the bargain you think is made in heaven might just be crafted in hell.

"We ask that persons be more vigilant with these specials going on. Do the math yourself before you make your purchase. We are also asking that you examine the products carefully before you purchase them, especially those items that you are going to ingest," said the CEO.

"Ensure that you look at the labels and that the expiry date is within reasonable time," she said.

Precautions

Consumers should also take precautions to secure their money and protect against identify theft and, if you use a credit card, do not let it out of your sight, Allen insisted.

"Make sure that you are seeing what is happening, because there are a lot of persons who are involved in identity theft, and a lot of persons fall prey to this type of thing when you give your credit card to persons to run it, for example at gas stations," she warns.

"We have a tendency to remain in our cars, while the credit card is being run inside the office. We ask that you desist from this practice," she said.

She is discouraging persons from becoming too involved in high-cost credit arrangements, as high interest rates prevail at this time.

The CAC published a two-page advertisement on petrol prices in Wednesday's Gleaner. The consumer watchdog has in recent months ramped up publication of its supermarket price surveys.