Villagers 'punished' by supermarket pricing

Villagers in Highfield, Gateshead, feel "punished" by high prices and limited product range at their local Tesco Express compared to larger stores. Campaigners highlight the issue of essential items being pricier at the convenience store, impacting vulnerable residents who can't afford a bus trip to larger supermarkets. The Competition & Markets Authority report suggests that convenience stores face higher operational costs, leading to slightly higher prices, despite efforts by supermarkets to offer competitive pricing in smaller outlets.