According to the group’s data, comparing prices between September 2015 and September 2016, food price inflation in its basket of 36 items hit over 15% in the past year.
Inflation was particularly high on foods that already carry high prices – meaning that there was far less money available for South Africans to spend on all other essential food items.
These high-price foods tend to be nutrient-rich: foods like meat, eggs and fish, vegetables and dairy products, Pacsa said.
“This year, along with substantial increases on the ‘big foods’; inflation on these nutrient-rich foods has also been very high. It means that nutritional diversity has been doubly threatened because not only is there less money to spend but the cost of foods has also increased,” the group said.
This has been particularly damaging to poorer households, who already suffer from nutrient deficient diets.
“Low-income households are really struggling. It is becoming more difficult to put food on the table,” Pacsa said.
“The drought and high temperatures has had a significant impact on food prices. Foods in the baskets of low income households increased sharply from November 2015, when the effects of the drought started to impact on the prices on the supermarket shelves.”
Data showed that overall food price inflation in the Pacsa Food Basket over the period of review was at 15.1%. In rand value, the cost of the basket increased by R243.63 from R1,616.97 to R1,860.60.
