logo
Rising food prices in South Africa: April 2025 Household Affordability Index

Rising food prices in South Africa: April 2025 Household Affordability Index

IOL News30-04-2025
Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) said that the April 2025 Household Affordability Index indicated that the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R90,94 (1.7%), from R5 329,36 in March 2025 to R5 420,30 in April 2025.
Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) said that the April 2025 Household Affordability Index indicated that the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R90,94 (1.7%), from R5 329,36 in March 2025 to R5 420,30 in April 2025. Civil society organisations have raised concerns about the rising cost of foods.
Mervyn Abrahams, PMBEJD programme co-ordinator, said that in April 2025: The average cost of the Household Food Basket is R5 420,30. 'Year-on-year: The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R83,99 (1,6%), from R5 336,31 in April 2024 to R5 420,30 in April 2025. Food pricing trends in April 2025. In April, of the 44 foods tracked in the basket: 24 foods increased in price, and 20 foods decreased in price.'
Abrahams added that foods in the basket which increased in price in April 2025 by 5% or more, include: potatoes (6%), onions (11%), beef (7%), fish (7%), tomatoes (26%), carrots (20%), spinach (7%), cabbage (6%), green pepper (7%), bananas (7%), and oranges (18%). 'Foods in the basket which increased in price in April 2025 by 2% or more, include: maize meal (2%), full cream milk (2%), beef tripe (2%), cremora (3%), apricot jam (4%), and brown bread (2%).'
Abrahams said that they have noticed increases in the food baskets across major cities in the month of April. 'In April 2025, food baskets in Joburg, Durban, Cape Town, Springbok and Pietermaritzburg increased in price. The Joburg basket increased by R77,58 (1,4%) month-on-month, and decreased by R52,72 (-0,9%) year-on-year, to R5 559,46 in April 2025. The Durban basket increased by R157,64 (3,0%) month-on-month, and increased by R168,23 (3,2%) year-on-year, to R5 425,23 in April 2025.'
Abrahams added that the Cape Town basket increased by R11,25 (0,2%) month-on-month, and increased by R129,80 (2,5%) year-on-year, to R5 316,56 in April 2025. 'The Springbok basket increased by R242,93 (4,3%) month-on-month, and increased by R186,68 (3,3%) year-on-year, to R5 908,84 in April 2025. The Maritzburg basket increased by R138,46 (2,8%) month-on-month, and decreased by R15,84 (-0,3%) year-on-year, to R5 044,47 in April 2025.'
Abrahams said that Statistics South Africa's latest Consumer Price Index for March 2025 shows that headline inflation was 2,7%, and for the lowest expenditure quintiles 1-3 it is 4,2%, 3,7%, and 3,3% respectively. 'CPI food inflation was 2,2% (for CPI Food & NAB it was 2,7%. STATS SA's Producer Price Index for March 2025 shows agriculture was 2,4%, of which, products of crops and horticulture was 9,2%, and live animals and animal products was -7.1%.'
Evashnee Naidu, regional manager for Black Sash in KwaZulu-Natal, said that the organisation continues to advocate for an increase in the value of social grants across the board to the extent that these increases are able to cushion the ever-increasing blow of food price increases. 'Whilst Black Sash welcomes the fact that there will be no VAT increase in 2025, which would have had a significant impact on poorer households, South Africa continues to see food prices increase. The Black Sash amplifies its call for permanent Basic Income Support to provide additional support to individuals and households.'
Aliya Chikte, project officer at the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), said that although food inflation is slowing down, the average cost of a household food basket is unaffordable in a context of mass unemployment and deep impoverishment. 'Even though more than half the population lives in poverty, the high rate of exclusion from the Social Relief of Distress leaves millions without the support needed to meet their immediate nutritional needs. As a new fiscal framework is tabled, we urge the government to protect and enhance social protection.'
Siyanda Baduza, a researcher with the Basic Income Project at the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), said that for the millions of grant recipients, the increase in food prices will continue to make life more difficult, as it does everyone else, even with the VAT reversal. 'The value of the child support grant and SRD grants remain far below adequate levels. Both lie below the food poverty line, now at R796, and also below all estimates of the cost to feed a child a nutritional diet.'
BUSINESS REPORT
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Consumer inflation rises to 4-month high as beef prices drive food price surge
Consumer inflation rises to 4-month high as beef prices drive food price surge

IOL News

time8 hours ago

  • IOL News

Consumer inflation rises to 4-month high as beef prices drive food price surge

Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the year-on-year rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages has notably surged to a 15-month high of 5.1%, with meat prices—especially beef—being the primary culprit behind this uptick. The consumer price inflation in South Africa has edged upwards, reaching 3% in June after holding steady at 2.8% for the previous two months. This increase in inflation, the highest in four months, indicates a growing pressure on household budgets, particularly due to escalating costs in the food and non-alcoholic beverages sector. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said the consumer price index (CPI) revealed a month-on-month change of 0.3% in June, suggesting that while inflation remains relatively low, it is inching higher due to sharp increases in certain food categories. Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the year-on-year rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages has notably surged to a 15-month high of 5.1%, with meat prices—especially beef—being the primary culprit behind this uptick. "Meat – particularly beef – continues to be the main driver of food inflation," Kelly said. "Beef prices spiked for a third successive month, with high annual and monthly increases recorded for stewing beef, mince and steak. Stewing beef rose by an annual 21.2%, the fastest pace on record since the current CPI series began in January 2017." However, it was not just beef that has contributed to the rising food inflation. Other unprocessed food items have also shown significant price increases, with fruits and nuts, as well as vegetables, remaining in double-digit inflation territory for the second month in a row. Items such as beetroot, lettuce, and carrots have been particularly hard-hit, further straining the average consumer's wallet. Contrarily, peanuts have shown a slight reduction in price. In a somewhat positive turn, Stats SA said there have been signs of cooling inflation in several other food categories. Notably, prices for white rice, hot cereals, and cold cereals have decreased, which has softened the annual rate for the cereal products category. Though maize meal continues to see high annual increases, its month-on-month change in June was a modest 0.4%, the lowest increase since November 2024. Some dairy products have also experienced price reductions compared to last year. Fresh full-cream milk, fresh low-fat milk, and eggs have all recorded lower prices, resulting in the milk, other dairy products, and eggs index shifting into deflationary territory with an annual change of -0.5%. Despite this annual decline, the monthly rise of 0.3%—the highest since August 2024—shows that consumers are still facing fluctuating prices, particularly in cheese products which have contributed significantly to this increase. As consumers grapple with these rising food prices, the overall increase in the inflation may serve as a warning of potential challenges ahead for the South African economy. BUSINESS REPORT

Consumer inflation rises to 3% as beef prices drive food price surge
Consumer inflation rises to 3% as beef prices drive food price surge

IOL News

time8 hours ago

  • IOL News

Consumer inflation rises to 3% as beef prices drive food price surge

Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the year-on-year rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages has notably surged to a 15-month high of 5.1%, with meat prices—especially beef—being the primary culprit behind this uptick. The consumer price inflation in South Africa has edged upwards, reaching 3% in June after holding steady at 2.8% for the previous two months. This increase in inflation indicates a growing pressure on household budgets, particularly due to escalating costs in the food and non-alcoholic beverages sector. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said the consumer price index (CPI) revealed a month-on-month change of 0.3% in June, suggesting that while inflation remains relatively low, it is inching higher due to sharp increases in certain food categories. Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the year-on-year rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages has notably surged to a 15-month high of 5.1%, with meat prices—especially beef—being the primary culprit behind this uptick. "Meat – particularly beef – continues to be the main driver of food inflation," Kelly said. "Beef prices spiked for a third successive month, with high annual and monthly increases recorded for stewing beef, mince and steak. Stewing beef rose by an annual 21.2%, the fastest pace on record since the current CPI series began in January 2017." However, it was not just beef that has contributed to the rising food inflation. Other unprocessed food items have also shown significant price increases, with fruits and nuts, as well as vegetables, remaining in double-digit inflation territory for the second month in a row. Items such as beetroot, lettuce, and carrots have been particularly hard-hit, further straining the average consumer's wallet. Contrarily, peanuts have shown a slight reduction in price. In a somewhat positive turn, Stats SA said there have been signs of cooling inflation in several other food categories. Notably, prices for white rice, hot cereals, and cold cereals have decreased, which has softened the annual rate for the cereal products category. Though maize meal continues to see high annual increases, its month-on-month change in June was a modest 0.4%, the lowest increase since November 2024. Some dairy products have also experienced price reductions compared to last year. Fresh full-cream milk, fresh low-fat milk, and eggs have all recorded lower prices, resulting in the milk, other dairy products, and eggs index shifting into deflationary territory with an annual change of -0.5%. Despite this annual decline, the monthly rise of 0.3%—the highest since August 2024—shows that consumers are still facing fluctuating prices, particularly in cheese products which have contributed significantly to this increase. As consumers grapple with these rising food prices, the overall increase in the inflation may serve as a warning of potential challenges ahead for the South African economy. BUSINESS REPORT

Fast food fuels growth in food and beverage sector
Fast food fuels growth in food and beverage sector

IOL News

timea day ago

  • IOL News

Fast food fuels growth in food and beverage sector

Takeaway and fast-food outlets are driving growth in South Africa's food and beverage sector, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa. In May, income generated by the overall industry rose in real terms by 4.5% compared to the same month last year, with quick-service outlets contributing the bulk of the increase. Fast food and takeaway chains made the biggest impact on the sector's performance over both the monthly and three-month reporting periods. Statistics South Africa's latest data shows that food and beverage businesses recorded an uptick of 4.3% in income for the three months to May, compared to the same period in 2024. Once again, fast food operators led the way, making the biggest contribution to the growth. In May alone, takeaway and fast-food establishments were the single largest driver of the year-on-year increase in total income across the sector, outpacing restaurants, coffee shops, and catering services. Research from Apollo Reports shows that the fast food and quick service restaurant market was valued at $2 billion, or R35.1bn, in 2022 with an expectation of it growing to R60bn by 2032. The overall food and beverage market is worth almost R7bn, Statistics South Africa's figures show.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store