BONUS - RUSTENBURG - Since pre-Covid May 2019, South Africans are now paying an estimated R2,280 more for a basket of grocery items, as of May 2024.
This is according to the price comparison of the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD) Food Affordability Index over the past five years.
PMBEJD’s Household Food Affordability Index examines 44 food prices collected directly by data collectors from the shelves of 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries that cater to the low-income market most frequented by the people in the areas where they live.
The PMBEJD’s May 2024 Household Affordability Index showed that the average cost of a house-hold food basket is currently R5,330.30. This is a R258.70 increase from one year ago (May 2023) but an R6.01 decrease from April 2024.
However, compared to 2019, the cost dif-ference increased to R2,279.19, with the basket costing R3051.11 in May 2019. While dozens of food items have seen price increases of over 50%, there are seven items that more than doubled in price (>100%).
These items are: rice up with 120%, sugar beans up with 164%, samp increased by 115%, onions by 145%, tomatoes are up by 150%, spinach by 122% and apples increased by 190%.
Over the past month, rice and sugar beans have increased by over 30%, while other items such as eggs, sugar, peanut butter, and fruit such as oranges have seen increases of over 20%.
Consultancy firm PwC noted that considering population growth of an estimated 1% during the year, the volume of food and beverages sold per capita at grocery stores and supermarkets declined by 3.2% in 2023.
PwC warned that while real income growth is expected to be marginally positive this year, pressure on food prices has increased.
