Prices for basic foods rise again

It looks like food prices for low-income consumers are starting to increase again as the average cost of the household food basket increased in April after stabilising in March and February. This means that low-income consumers have less money to spend on nutritious food for their families.

The Household Affordability Index for April shows that the average cost of the household food basket was R5 336.31. This was R58.38 (1.1%) more than in March and R312.36 (6.2%) in April 2023.

Women who live in low-income communities compile the survey on behalf of the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group based on the prices of 44 basic foods from 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba in northern KwaZulu-Natal and Springbok in the Northern Cape.

Higher vegetable prices drove up the price of the April household food basket, while the Joburg food basket, which rose substantially more than Durban and Cape Town, further drove up the average household food basket price.

In April, the prices of 27 foods rose while those of 17 foods dropped. Foods in the basket which increased in price in April 2024 by 5% or more include sugar beans (+6%), onions (+44%), tomatoes (+13%), carrots (+18%), spinach (+12%), green peppers (+17%) and soup (+5%).

Foods in the basket which rose in price by 2% or more include white sugar (+2%), maas (+2%), chicken livers (+2%), beef liver (+2%), beef tripe (+2%), cabbage (+4%), tinned pilchards (+3%), bananas (+4%), peanut butter (+2%), apricot jam (+3%) and brown bread (+2%).

Foods that cost more than 5% less in April include potatoes (-5%), tea (-5%), fish (-5%), apples (-12%) and oranges (-30%), while foods that cost 5% less include frozen chicken portions (-4%), curry powder (-2%), stock cubes (-3%), full cream milk (-2%), wors (-4%), canned baked beans (-2%) and margarine (-2%).

In April the price of the food basket rose by small amounts in Durban and Cape Town and a very high amount in Joburg. It declined by high amounts in Springbok, Maritzburg and Mtubatuba.

The Joburg food basket cost R224.90 (4.2%) more compared to March and R591.12 (11.8%) more than in March last year.

This was driven by higher vegetable prices and core staple foods like maize meal, rice, flour, sugar, beans and bread.

The Durban basket cost R12.88 (0.2%) more than in March and R376.33 (7.7%) more than last year. The Cape Town basket cost R28.15 (0,5%) more than in March and R96.91 (1,9%) more than last year. The Springbok basket cost R140.57 (-2.4%) less than in March and R384.66 (7.2%) than last year.