The latest national Household Affordability Index by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) shows that average grocery prices increased by 0,5% from August to September 2024. Rice and onions are among the foods that decreased in price, while bananas and tomatoes have seen a significant increase.
About the data
The PMBEJD collaborates with women living on low incomes to gather the data for their monthly Household Affordability Index.
These women are from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba, and Springbok. The index is based on foods that women living in an average low-income household size would typically buy each month. They track food prices directly from the shelves of 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries that target the low-income market. These include the ones that women identified as the ones they shop at in their areas.
Year-on-year, the cost of the average household food basket increased by R99,91 (1,9%).
Grocery price changes from August to September 2024
Biggest increases in food items
| Food | Quantity | August 2024 average price | September 2024 average price | Change in percentage |
| Potatoes | 10kg | R104,97 | R116,97 | +11,4% |
| Bananas | 4kg | R58,60 | R65,18 | +11,2% |
| Tomatoes | 6kg | R126,27 | R138,34 | +9,6% |
| Butternut | 10kg | R92,05 | R96,97 | +5,3% |
| Apples | 3kg | R45,71 | R47,88 | +4,7% |
| Maize meal | 30kg | R304,47 | R318,80 | +4,7% |
| Carrots | 5kg | R39,25 | R41,04 | +4,6% |
| Cooking oil | 5l | R147,61 | R152,37 | +3,2% |
Other food items that have increased in prices include samp, tinned pilchards, cake flour, inyama yangaphakathi, and also beef but the increase was less than 3%.
Biggest decreases in food items
| Food | Quantity | August 2024 average price | September 2024 average price | Change in percentage |
| Onions | 10kg | R121,48 | R100,78 | -17% |
| Chicken livers | 2kg | R81,34 | R75,89 | -6,7% |
| Salt | 1kg | R16,14 | R15,25 | -5,5% |
| Canned beans | 410g x 6 | R93,62 | R89,88 | -4,0% |
| Fish | 2kg | R120,76 | R117,16 | -3,0% |
| Apricot jam | 900g | R38,86 | R37,78 | -2,8% |
| Cabbage | 2 heads | R40,62 | R39,54 | -2,7% |
| Eggs | 60 eggs | R168,19 | R163,85 | -2,6% |
| Oranges | 7kg | R62,46 | R60,93 | -2,4% |
| Spinach | 8 bunches | R101,27 | R99,00 | -2,2% |
| Rice | 10kg | R177,44 | R174,12 | -1,9% |
Price differences between regions
Various factors, such as transportation costs and local availability, influence grocery price changes in different regions.
For example, in September 2024, the prices for potatoes, bananas, and spinach were higher in Durban compared to Cape Town and Johannesburg. Also, prices in Johannesburg were lower than in Durban and Cape Town for potatoes, onions, and oranges.
Here is a comparison of which of these three areas had the lowest prices for the 19 food items listed in the tables above:
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