July 2024 Household Affordability Index

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Key data from the July 2024 Household Affordability Index

The July 2024 Household Affordability Index, which tracks the prices of 44 basic foods from 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries, in Johannesburg (Soweto, Alexandra, Tembisa and Hillbrow), Durban (KwaMashu, Umlazi, Isipingo, Durban CBD, Hammarsdale and Pinetown), Cape Town (Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Philippi, Langa, Delft and Dunoon), Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba (in Northern KwaZulu-Natal), and Springbok (in the Northern Cape), shows that:

• In July 2024: The average cost of the Household Food Basket is R5 252,15.
• Month-on-month: The average cost of the Household Food Basket decreased by R0,62 (-0,0%), from R5 252,77 in June 2024 to R5 252,15 in July 2024.
• Year-on-year:  The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R170,21 (3,3%), from R5 081,94 in July 2023 to R5 252,15 in July 2024.

Food pricing trends in July 2024.

In July 22 foods increased in price, and 22 foods decreased in price.

Foods in the basket which increased in price in July 2024 by 5% or more, include: samp (6%), eggs (5%), and green pepper (6%).

Foods in the basket which increased in price in July 2024 by 2% or more, include:  maize meal (2%), rice (3%), chicken livers (2%), cremora (2%), apples (2%), peanut butter (3%), white bread (3%), and brown bread (2%).

Foods in the basket which decreased in price in July 2024, by 5% or more, include:  tomatoes (-8%), carrots (-9%), butternut (-6%), spinach (-6%), and oranges (-5%).

Foods in the basket which decreased in price in July 2024, by 2% or more, include:  onions (-2%), curry powder (-4%), soup (-2%), tea (-4%), chicken gizzards (-2%), wors (-2%), beef tripe (-2%), cabbage (-4%), polony (-2%), and apricot jam (-2%).

See page 2 of July 2024, Household Affordability Index.

Inflation on the food baskets per area tracked.

In July 2024, food baskets decreased in Joburg, Cape Town, Springbok and Pietermaritzburg.  Food baskets increased in Durban and Mtubatuba.  (See pages 10-15 for area specific data, in the July 2024, Household Affordability Index).

The Joburg basket decreased by R6,38 (-0,1%) month-on-month, and increased by R381,99 (7,4%) year-on-year, to R5 533,49 in July 2024.

The Durban basket increased by R84,72 (1,7%) month-on-month, and increased by R190,88 (3,8%) year-on-year, to R5 212,55 in July 2024.

The Cape Town basket decreased by R67,69 (-1,3%) month-on-month, and decreased by R21,73 (-0,4%) year-on-year, to R5 033,05 in July 2024.

The Springbok basket decreased by R70,32 (-1,3%) month-on-month, and increased by R101,32 (1,9%) year-on-year, to R5 401,64 in July 2024.

The Maritzburg basket decreased by R22,66 (-0,4%) month-on-month, and increased by R120,52 (2,4%) year-on-year, to R5 065,24 in July 2024.

The Mtubatuba basket increased by R14,68 (0,3%) month-on-month, and increased by R78,82 (1,5%) year-on-year, to R5 248,10 in July 2024. 

Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index.

Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index for June 20241 shows that Headline inflation was 5,1%, and for the lowest expenditure quintiles 1-3 it is 5,8%, 5,4%, and 5,0% respectively.  CPI Food inflation was 4,1% (for CPI Food & NAB it was 4,6%, we use the figure excluding non-alcoholic beverages).  STATS SA’s Producer Price Index for June 20242 shows agriculture was 10,5%. 

Women and children

In July 2024, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet was R935,71.  Over the past month, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R0,62 or 0,1%.  Year-on-year, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R36,17 or 4,0% (See page 6 of July 2024, Household Affordability Index).

In July 2024, the Child Support Grant of R530 is 30% below the Food Poverty Line of R760, and 43% below the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet (R935,71).

Workers

The National Minimum Wage is R27,58 an hour and R220,64 for an 8-hour day. In July 2024, with 23 working days, the maximum National Minimum Wage for a General Worker is R5 074,72.  Workers work to support their families.  The wage workers earn is not just to sustain themselves alone, it is used to support the entire family. For Black South African workers, one wage typically must support 4 people.  Dispersed in a worker’s family of 4 persons, the NMW, is R1 268,68 per person – this is below the upper-bound poverty line of R1 558 per person per month.

The July 2024 average cost of a basic nutritional food basket for a family of four persons is R3 669,23 (See page 6 of July 2024, Household Affordability Index).

On our calculations, using Pietermaritzburg-based figures for electricity and transport, and the average figure for a minimum nutritional basket of food for a family of four, puts electricity, and transport, taking up 56,8% of a worker’s wage (R2 882,97/R5 074,72).  Food is bought after monies for transport and electricity have been paid for or set aside (leaving R2 191,75 – for food and everything else), and so in July 2024, PMBEJD calculates that workers’ families will underspend on food by a minimum of 40,3% (having R2 191,75 left over after transport and electricity, and with food costing R3 669,23). In this scenario there is no possibility of a worker being able to afford enough nutritious food for her family.  If the entire R2 191,75 all went to buy food, then for a family of 4 persons, we are looking at R547,93 per person per month.  This is below the food poverty line of R760 (See page 8 of July 2024, Household Affordability Index).

Household domestic and personal hygiene products

The July 2024 Household Domestic & Personal Hygiene Index shows an increase of R7,67 (0,7%) month-on-month.  Year-on-year the household domestic and personal hygiene products index increased by R73,56 (7,6%) bringing the total average cost of basic household domestic and personal hygiene products to R1 037,33 in July 2024 (See page 5 of July 2024, Household Affordability Index). 

The cost of basic hygiene products is high.  These products compete in the household purse with food.  These products are essential for good health and hygiene.