Food inflation eases, still too high for working class

The household food basket cost slightly more in December than in November and more than a year ago, while it remains too expensive for low-income consumers who battle to feed their families on the national minimum wage.

- Ina Opperman

According to the Household Affordability Index compiled by women from low-income communities from stores where they shop for their own families, the average cost of the household food basket was R5 383.38 in December, R22.34 (0.4%) more than in November and R145.18 (2.8%) more than in December 2023.

The Household Affordability Index tracks 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).

In December, 21 of the foods in the basket cost more, while 22 of the foods decreased in price. Foods in the basket which increased in price in December by 5% or more include spinach (9%), bananas (7%) and apples (9%).