Warning over food prices in South Africa
The latest food basket data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group (PMBEJD) shows that oil and fat prices were generally the only foods to come down in price over the last year – while pantry essentials and vegetables continued to surge.
According to the PMBEJD, its nutritional basket of foods has increased by over R140 in October and will set consumers back R5,297.58.
This is R141.81 (2.8%) higher than in September 2023 and almost y R509.75 (10.6%) higher than the same basket in October 2022.
The basket comprises 44 food items that feature in the monthly shopping of the majority of South African households and gives an indication of real price shifts at a retail level in the country, even when compared to the official inflation rate.
Year-on-year inflation for the basked was at 10.6% – higher than food inflation tracked in Stats SA’s CPI, which came in at 8.1% in September. The PMBEJD’s year-on-year basket price difference was also 7.3% in August.
25 of the 44 items in the basket are still showing double-digit price jumps compared to a year ago, and 12 of these items are more than 20% higher. All of these high-increase food items are fruits, pantry essentials, and vegetables.
Onions and potatoes have seen the biggest increases overall.
- Potatoes: +102%
- Oranges: +38%
- Eggs: +36%
- Apples: +28%
- Green Pepper: +25%
- Rice: +22%
- Curry powder: +22%
- Tea: +22%
- Butternut: +22%
- Onions: +21%
- White Sugar: +21%
- Spinach: +20%
On the other side of the equation, five food items have actually come down in price – and two prices have remained relatively stable. Aside from cooking oil (-12%), the price reductions or stabilisations are for fats and meat.
- Cooking oil: -12%
- Inyama yangaphakathi (tripe): -2%
- Margarine: -1%
- Beef: 0%
Regionally, in February 2023, food baskets increased in all areas, including Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba, Joburg, and Springbok.
- The Joburg basket increased by R258,20 (4,9%) month-on-month and increased by R617,21 (12,6%) year-on-year to R5 509,09 in October 2023.
- The Durban basket increased by R170,46 (3,4%) month-on-month and increased by R503,16 (10,8%) year-on-year to R5 177,62 in October 2023.
- The Cape Town basket increased by R90,25 (1,7%) month-on-month and increased by R532,09 (11,2%) year-on-year to R5 262,66 in October 2023.
- The Springbok basket increased by R186,57 (3,4%) month-on-month and increased by R567,83 (11,2%) year-on-year to R5 635,61 in October 2023.
- The Maritzburg basket increased by R6,86 (0,1%) month-on-month and increased by R245,82 (5,2%) year-on-year to R4 949,81 in October 2023.
- The Mtubatuba basket increased by R144,43 (2,7%) month-on-month and increased by R1 112,17 (25,5%) year-on-year to R5 473,87 in October 2023
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