Keeping tabs on food prices

would have minimal impact on food prices.

He said many consumers looked at the fuel price drop of R1.80, from R17 to R15.20, and saw it as a 10.6% decrease. They then expected this to simply be extended onto food items. But this was not the case.

Fuel (petrol/diesel) constituted a very small percentage of the CPI basket, which in essence meant that this was the percent of fuel that was used by consumers in their own personal circumstances, he said.

The 10.6% decrease in fuel in CPI terms was miniscule, and would have little effect on food prices in the short-term.