{"id":764009,"date":"2024-03-27T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=764009"},"modified":"2024-03-27T13:01:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T11:01:10","slug":"food-prices-continue-to-climb-in-south-africa-with-19-items-seeing-a-double-digit-increase-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/764009\/food-prices-continue-to-climb-in-south-africa-with-19-items-seeing-a-double-digit-increase-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Food prices continue to climb in South Africa \u2013 with 19 items seeing a double-digit increase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest food basket data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group (PMBEJD) shows that food prices in South Africa continue to climb \u2013 with some pantry essentials, fruits, and eggs still showing double-digit hikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the PMBEJD, its household food basket for March 2024 increased to R5,277.93 \u2013 an increase of R311.72 (6.3%) compared to March 2023. Month-on-month, the basket remained relatively unchanged, with a R0.63 increase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While measuring data a month later than Stats SA\u2019s basket, the 6.3% increase is higher than the latest recorded CPI for food, which came in at 6.1% in February 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PMBEJD\u2019s basket comprises 44 food items that most households in South Africa would purchase in a typical month. While this reflects a lower-income basket, this is what the majority of households would look at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the 44 food items tracked by the group, 16 came down in price, year-on-year, with Onions (-25%) and Samp (-12%) seeing the largest price drops. The balance (28 items) went up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19 food items saw double-digit growth year-on-year, reflecting significant increases \u2013 and seven were over 20%:<\/p>\n\n\n\n