Coles blames farmers, suppliers for higher prices

Coles says its suppliers are subject to the same cost pressures that households are grappling with. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

A key driver of supermarket price increases has been down to requests for hikes by suppliers and farmers, Coles has told a parliamentary inquiry. 

In a submission to a committee on supermarket prices, Coles says it has received on average more than 70 requests a week from suppliers and farmers, which was almost double the level a few years ago.