On month-to-month basis, prices have largely decreased, with only a few outliers gaining in price, such as potatoes (+6%), Margarine (+4%) and salt (+3%).<\/p>\n
Conversely, several food items are seeing sizeable price drops:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Carrots –\u00a0 33%<\/li>\n
- Onions –\u00a0 30%<\/li>\n
- Bananas –\u00a0 22%<\/li>\n
- Spinach – 20%<\/li>\n
- Wors –\u00a0 11%<\/li>\n
- Stock cubes –\u00a0 8%<\/li>\n
- Apples –\u00a0 8%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Annually, food prices have largely increased far above inflation, with standouts being cabbage (+45%) and rice (+43%).<\/p>\n
Some food prices have dropped year-on-year, however, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Bananas – 34%<\/li>\n
- Butternut –\u00a0 19%<\/li>\n
- Carrots –\u00a0 15%<\/li>\n
- Tomatoes –\u00a0 15%<\/li>\n
- Tea –\u00a0\u00a0 9%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can view the full basket comparison below:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Household-food-basket-July.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLockdown<\/strong><\/p>\n
The Competition Commission recently published findings on food price changes during South Africa’s lockdown.<\/p>\n
Citing StatsSA data, the commission said that prices were initially high at the start of the country\u2019s lockdown in early April but, subsequently receded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is consistent with a trend of initial panic buying in late March and early April, and then a steady easing or decrease in prices after that point,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
The commission said that food constitutes 30% of low-income household expenditure and is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, so containing price inflation is a priority during the crisis.<\/p>\n
The category with the largest pricing hike is \u201cmilk, eggs and cheese\u201d which initially soared, but decreased in the following weeks.<\/p>\n
Comparing PMBEJD data from March 2020 (pre-lockdown) and July, current prices for items like rice (+28%), cabbage (+19%) and margarine (+18%) remain higher than they were before lockdown – but food like apples (-36%), bananas (-29%) and carrots (-9%) are now cheaper than before.<\/p>\n
These changes are outlined below:<\/p>\n