The Citizen reports that the household food basket for low-income consumers increased by R141.82 in just one month during October.
The food basket is part of the Household Affordability Index compiled by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group from prices checked by women who live in poor communities at 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries, in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba and Springbok. The basket is considered a reasonable proxy for a food basket that contains the most important typical foods most households try to buy each month, given affordability constraints. The basket is not nutritionally complete. The average cost of the household food basket was R5,297.58 in October, namely R141.81 (2.8%) more than in September when it cost R5,155.77 and R509.75 (10.6%) more than it cost in October last year when it was R4,787.83. The food basket cost more in all the areas where prices were checked: A worker earning the National Minimum Wage of R25,42 an hour and R203.36 for an 8-hour day would be unable to afford the food basket. In October, with 22 working days, a general worker earned R4,473.92.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen
- Lees ook, Aartappels, eiers jaag prys van kosmandjie op, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page