Average consumer cannot afford food, warns economic group
The latest inflation figures will see the average South African suffering even more under the crushing cost of living.
That's according to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group Programme.
It's been reacting to the Consumer Price Inflation increase to 7.1% in March.
Stats SA says the main driver was food inflation, with prices having increased by 14% year-on-year.
READ: Consumer inflation edges higher in March
The Economic Justice and Dignity Group's Mervyn Abrahams says the household food basket is currently sitting at nearly R5 000.
“If this means that a worker earning a national minimum wage cannot afford this basket of food, let alone transport costs, debt servicing costs, and electricity. So the cost of living has become a crisis for most South African households.
“The only way they can deal with the escalating prices is to cut back on their consumption. So they are cutting back on the amount of electricity they use and cutting back on food they eat and this could lead to household food insecurity."
