The most expensive province to buy food in South Africa

Gauteng has emerged as the most expensive province in South Africa to buy groceries, according to data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) group.

This revelation highlights stark provincial disparities in food costs, with Johannesburg standing out as the priciest city, surpassing Durban and Cape Town.

The PMBEJD tracks the cost of a household food basket across different regions, and its October 2024 report offers valuable insights.

The cost of the basket, which includes 44 essential food items reflecting the purchasing patterns of average South African households, reached R5,297.58 in October.

This marks a modest 1% annual increase of R512.07 compared to the same period in 2023. Month-on-month, the increase was slightly higher at 1.8% or R92.97.

While the annual increase in food prices is relatively lower than the overall consumer price inflation rate of 4.4% reported in August 2024, food costs remain a critical concern for many South Africans.

Recent consumer price index (CPI) data from Statistics South Africa showed that food inflation had peaked at 5.1% in June 2024 before slowing, offering some relief.

However, this respite has done little to address the persistent strain on household budgets in urban areas like Johannesburg, where food prices are significantly higher than the national average.

The cost breakdown by region underscores the disparities in grocery expenses across the country.

In Johannesburg, the food basket cost R5,486.87 in October, an increase of just R4.22 (0.1%) from the previous month.

This figure exceeds the national average by R185.07, solidifying Johannesburg’s position as the most expensive main metro for groceries.

In contrast, Durban, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, recorded the cheapest basket among the three major metros at R5,257.42, a R229.45 difference compared to Johannesburg.

Cape Town, meanwhile, saw a significant 5% month-on-month increase, with its basket costing R5,290.07 in October—just below the national average but reflecting rising costs.

Despite some price drops within specific food categories, the overall trend remains worrying.

The PMBEJD report notes that while 14 out of the 44 tracked food items became cheaper year-on-year, 30 saw price increases, with eight experiencing double-digit inflation.

Notably, three of these products saw price hikes of over 20%, reflecting ongoing pressures on certain food categories:

• Sugar beans: +26%
• Oranges: +25%
• Cremora: +24%

On a more positive note, certain vegetables have offered relief to consumers.

Butternut and onions, for example, saw significant price reductions of 27% and 34%, respectively.

However, these isolated decreases have been insufficient to offset the rising costs of other essential items in the food basket.

Looking at the broader picture, the escalating cost of groceries over the past few decades paints an alarming trend.

In 1995, a typical middle-income household grocery basket of 15 staple items cost just R82.68.

Today, that same basket is priced at R644.85, representing a staggering 680% increase.

This far outpaces the general inflation rate of 384% over the same period, illustrating the disproportionate rise in food costs relative to other goods and services.

These figures, derived from archived 1995 data from Stats SA and current prices from major retailers, highlight how food affordability has eroded over the years.

The relentless rise in food costs is particularly concerning for low- and middle-income households, which spend a substantial portion of their income on groceries.

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