THE latest Household Affordability Index by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity group (PMBEJD) shows that food prices have dropped slightly in May, following a sharp increase in April 2021.
The civil society initiative found that all household food baskets in the areas it covers – namely Joburg, Durban, Cape Town, Springbok and Pietermaritzburg – increased month-on-month, and are still at much higher levels than September 2020, when the basket was first compiled.
However, the basket is R62 (1.5%) cheaper than a month ago (April) at R4,137.11. The basket comprises 44 core food items most frequently purchased by lower-income households who make up the majority of households in the country.
Despite the slight drop in prices in May, the basket has seen a dramatic increase in price since it was first introduced – up 7.3% over the nine month period.
The PMBEJD noted that the May decrease did not counter
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