The recent spike in fuel prices has negatively impacted the pockets of most South Africans, but there is comfort in the knowledge that the prices of almost all the Daily Dispatch food basket staples have remained unchanged.
Of the eight trolley essentials monitored monthly by this newspaper, all have remained the same, with only the price of butternut rising by R1 per kilogram.
Chicken pieces can be bought for R5,01 cheaper than last month.
The Dispatch visits three supermarket chains every month, noting down prices of basic pantry staples. The cheapest prices are then pegged onto the recently redesigned food basket graph so readers can monitor price fluctuations at a glance.
In order to bag these prices, consumers would have to call on different supermarkets in search of the best deals, an option with is both impractical and costly. However, charting these prices provides a good indication of the retail grocery environment.
The prices of supermarket trolley staples this month look like this:
The price of 750ml of sunflower oil remains the same at R15.99;
A 1kg tray of chicken pieces is R5.01 cheaper;
At R7.49, the price of a loaf of brown bread remains unchanged;
Mielie meal costs R5.99, the same as it did in July;
Milk remains steady at R9.99 per litre;
At R10.99, the price of 1kg of potatoes is the same;
Eggs also cost the same as they did in July, at R23.98 per dozen;
Butternut costs R9.99 per kg and is R1 more expensive than it was last month.
Looking back to two years ago, all of this month’s prices, with the exception of butternut, are cheaper, some significantly so.
For example, sunflower oil cost R4 more, mielie meal was R5 more expensive per kilogram and chicken pieces would have cost you R8.88 more two years ago.
However, with petrol nearing the R16 per litre mark, transport costs have become a massive burden and may yet inflate food basket costs...