January 2025 Household Affordability Index and Key Data

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Key data from the January 2025 Household Affordability Index

The January 2025 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 January 2025: The average cost of the Household Food Basket is R5 433,70.
• Month-on-month: The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R50,32 (0,9%), from R5 383,38 in December 2024 to R5 433,70 in January 2025.
• Year-on-year:  The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R108,84 (2,0%), from R5 324,86 in January 2024 to R5 433,70 in January 2025.

Food pricing trends in January 2025.

In January, of the 44 foods tracked in the basket:  31 foods increased in price, and 12 foods decreased in price.  Due to the seasonal availability of oranges, this month we continued to use the November 2024 price as a proxy; hence price is unchanged.  See page 2 of January 2025, Household Affordability Index.

Foods in the basket which increased in price in January 2025 by 5% or more, include:  potatoes (7%), onions (5%), and chicken livers (5%).

Foods in the basket which increased in price in January 2025 by 2% or more, include:  maize meal (3%), sugar beans (4%), samp (2%), cooking oil (2%), salt (4%), curry powder (2%), tea (2%), beef (3%), wors (4%), beef tripe (3%), fish (2%), carrots (4%), spinach (4%), canned beans (2%), and apples (3%).

Foods in the basket which decreased in price in January 2025, by 2% or more, include: soup (-2%), chicken feet (-3%), beef liver (-4%), tomatoes (-2%), cremora (-2%), bananas (-3%), and brown bread (-2%).

Inflation on the food baskets per area tracked.

In January 2025, food baskets increased in Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Mtubatuba.  The Joburg and Springbok food baskets decreased. 

The Joburg basket decreased by R48,31 (-0,9%) month-on-month, and increased by R145,61 (2,7%) year-on-year, to R5 507,38 in January 2025. 

The Durban basket increased by R90,41 (1,7%) month-on-month, and increased by R88,69 (1,7%) year-on-year, to R5 451,07 in January 2025. 

The Cape Town basket increased by R123,17 (2,3%) month-on-month, and increased by R151,36 (2,9%) year-on-year, to R5 368,58 in January 2025. 

The Springbok basket decreased by R62,32 (-1,1%) month-on-month, and increased by R152,58 (2,7%) year-on-year, to R5 773,13 in January 2025. 

The Maritzburg basket increased by R39,04 (0,8%) month-on-month, and decreased by R163,31 (-3,1%) year-on-year, to R5 075,45 in January 2025. 

The Mtubatuba basket increased by R102,26 (1,9%) month-on-month, and increased by R133,18 (2,4%) year-on-year, to R5 600,67 in January 2025.

(See pages 10-15 for area specific data, in the January 2025, Household Affordability Index).

Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index.

Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index for December 2024__ shows that Headline inflation was 3,0%, and for the lowest expenditure quintiles 1-3 it is 4,0%, 3,6%, and 3,3% respectively.  CPI Food inflation was 1,7% (for CPI Food & NAB it was 2,5%, we use the figure excluding non-alcoholic beverages).  STATS SA’s Producer Price Index for November 2024__ shows agriculture was 3,6%.  (The expected release date for the December PPI is 30 January 2025).

Workers

The National Minimum Wage is R27,58 an hour and R220,64 for an 8-hour day. In January 2025, with 22- working days, the maximum National Minimum Wage for a General Worker is R4 854,08.  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 213,52 per person – this is below the upper-bound poverty line of R1 634 per person per month.

The January 2025 average cost of a basic nutritional food basket for a family of four persons is R3 830,05 (See page 6 of January 2025, 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 57.7% of a worker’s wage (R2 802,97/R4 854,08).  Food is bought after monies for transport and electricity have been paid for or set aside (leaving R2 051,11 – for food and everything else), and so in January 2025, PMBEJD calculates that workers’ families will underspend on food by a minimum of 46,4% (having R2 051,11 left over after transport and electricity, and with food costing R3 830,05). In this scenario there is no possibility of a worker being able to afford enough nutritious food for her family.  If the entire R2 051,11 all went to buy food, then for a family of 4 persons, it would provide R512,78 per person per month.  This is below the food poverty line of R796 (See page 8 of January 2025, Household Affordability Index).

Women and children

In January 2025, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet was R976,39.  Over the past month, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R7,83 or 0,8%.  Year-on-year, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R22,64 or 2,4% (See page 6 of January 2025, Household Affordability Index).

In January 2025, the Child Support Grant of R530 is 33% below the Food Poverty Line of R796, and 46% below the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet (R976,39).

Household domestic and personal hygiene products

The January 2025 Household Domestic & Personal Hygiene Index increased by R12,32 (1,2%) month-on-month.  Year-on-year the household domestic and personal hygiene products index increased by R39,83 (4,0%) bringing the total average cost of basic household domestic and personal hygiene products to R1 045,64 in January 2025 (See page 5 of January 2025, Household Affordability Index). 

The cost of basic hygiene products is high.  These products are part of the monthly groceries, and compete in the household purse with food.  These products are essential for good health and hygiene; and dignity.