Few food items bring respite

Since the Saturday Dispatch’s last foray down the aisles of three supermarket chains two months ago, only the price of sunflower oil has gone up while consumers will pay less for chicken pieces and eggs.

And, since the only element of our food basket not exempt from VAT is chicken, this is good news for consumers. However, most shoppers have to rely on more than just the basics to fill up their trolleys and feed their families and April’s 1% VAT increase has put a strain on the pocket.

This month we once again popped into the grocery stores, noting down the prices of eight staples and comparing them to months gone by. These were our findings:

• The price of 750ml of sunflower oil rose by 50 cents from R15.49 to R15.99;
• A 1kg tray of chicken pieces cost R45.50 per kg in March and R36.99 this week, a price drop of R8.51;
• At R6.99, a loaf of brown bread costs the same;
• The mielie meal price also remains unchanged at R6.99 per kilo;
• Milk remains steady at R9.99 per litre;
• The price of 1kg of potatoes also remains the same at R10.99;
• Eggs are cheaper. A dozen cost R31.99 in March and have gone down by R6.01 to R25.98; and
• Butternut costs R8.99 per kg, the same it did two months ago.

Interestingly, a comparison of prices noted at the beginning of January this year shows that all the components of our basket besides eggs which went up by 40 cents per dozen, got cheaper or maintained the same price.

Sunflower oil and mielie meal, for instance, both cost R2 more in January, while milk and potatoes cost the same this month as they did at the beginning of the year.

And so, while the unpopular VAT increase introduced as a parting shot by former finance minister Malusi Gigaba has taken a toll on other consumer items and has had an impact on the cost of living, the prices of staples thankfully remain constant. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za