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THE COST of a household food basket has again risen this month and the constant rising food costs, together with job losses and no pay increases since the beginning of Covid, means households are just not coping.
In November, the cost of a household food basket went up by a national average of R48.18 from R4,787.83 in October to R4,835.96 for November 2022, according to November 2022 Household Affordability Index by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD).
In a year, the average cost of a household food basket increased by R563.52, from R4,272.44 in November 2021 to R4,835.96 this month.
Mervyn Abrahams, the programme co-ordinator for PMBEJD, said the massive food increases have resulted in people cutting back on their purchases while some go to bed on an empty stomach.
The increase in food costs, coupled with rising interest rates, has left people with very little money or no money for other goods and services.
The dire situation will continue to be the same for many South African consumers, making Christmas time a very sad time for people in the country, Abrahams said.
“Households will take on more debt in order to survive the festive period,” he said.
The index tracks food price data from 44 supermarkets and 30 butcheries in five different cities including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Springbok.
This month, the following foods increased by 4%:
– maize meal
– cake flour
– samp
– onions
– chicken feet
– beef liver
– wors
– fish
– carrots
– apples
– oranges
– apricot jam
For Johannesburg, costs of vegetables and fruits increased, while in Pietermaritzburg, the cost of milk, onions, carrots, green pepper, apples as well as oranges were also lifted.
In Durban, the cost of major staples, including maize meal, flour, samp and cooking oil, increased, plus other items such as dairy, meats, onions, spinach and oranges.
Just like Durban, in Springbok there were major increases in the cost of flour, sugar, meats, as well as vegetables such as onions, green pepper and tomatoes.
For Cape Town, there was increases in the cost of meat, potatoes, onions, salts, soups, and stocks.