The Citizen reports that the average prices for the household food basket for low-income consumers were slightly lower in May, although the basket still cost substantially more than a year ago.
The household basket is part of the Household Affordability Index compiled by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group based on prices collected by women in low-income communities at 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries. The survey conducted at supermarkets and butcheries in Joburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba and Springbok showed that in May the average cost of the Household Food Basket was R5,330.30, a decrease of R6.01 from R5,336.31 in April The basket was R258.70 more expensive than in May 2023, when it cost R5,071.59. Mervyn Abrahams, programme coordinator for the group, commented that the data was starting to show an easing in the annual rate of inflation on the household food basket of 5.1%, however, “while the rate of inflation is coming down it is important to note that inflation on food is still 5.1% higher now than it was a year ago.” In addition, Abrahams noted, the Rand-value cost of the basket was still very high compared to the low baseline wage of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), that stood at R4,633.44 this month. He pointed out that the wage workers earned was not just to sustain themselves alone but to support the entire family. “For black South African workers, one wage typically supports four people. Dispersed in a worker’s family of four, the NMW is R1,158.36 per person, far below the upper-bound poverty line of R1,558 per person per month.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen
- Read too, South Africa’s consumer food inflation slows further, at Mail & Guardian
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page