Aldi offers the cheapest groceries, way below major rivals, before new price gouging rules start. Consumer group Choice found Aldi's basket cost $72.41. Woolworths was next at $98.98, Coles at $100.04, and IGA at $109.25. The survey checked 20 common grocery items like milk, bread, apples, and party foods such as crackers and camembert cheese. Aldi’s price stayed the same even when specials were included. Woolworths’ price dropped to $93.17 with specials, but Coles and IGA barely changed. The survey covered 104 stores in 27 places during September. Choice’s editorial director, Mark Serrels, said: "When including specials, Aldi was still the cheapest, with the price remaining the same as our basket without specials at $72.41." The federal government will ban big retailers from charging excessively high prices starting next July. Fines could reach $10 million per breach or 10% of annual turnover. Retail groups like the Australian Retailers Association strongly oppose these moves. In March, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported that Coles and Woolworths face little pressure to lower prices. They are among the most profitable supermarkets worldwide, revealing little competition.