Local Food Inflation Statistics
- The average household food basket increased by R27.17 (0.5%) from R5 452.09 in April 2026 to R5 479.26 in May 2026.
- Year‑on‑year, the basket is up only 2%, signalling a temporary stabilisation despite underlying pressures.
Month‑on‑Month Comparisons (April 2026 vs May 2026)
Price Changes in Poultry and Meat Products
| Description | Change | Per Quantity |
| Chicken feet | –4% | 2kg |
| Beef tripe | –4% | 2kg |
| Fish | +4% | 2kg |
Notable Price Increases
| Item | Change | Per Quantity |
| Tomatoes | +11% | 6kg |
| Carrots | +16% | 5kg |
| Butternut | +9% | 10kg |
| Cabbage | +11% | 2 heads |
| Salt | +4% | 1kg |
| Tea | +4% | 250g |
Notable Price Decreases
| Item | Change | Per Quantity |
| Oranges | –21% | 7kg |
Year‑on‑Year Comparisons (May 2025 vs May 2026)
Notable Price Increases YoY
| Item | Change | Per Quantity |
| White sugar | +5% | 10kg |
| Onions | +5% | 10kg |
| Frozen chicken portions | +9% | 10kg |
| Gizzards | +16% | 2kg |
| Beef liver | +21% | 2kg |
| Beef | +5% | 2kg |
| Wors | +7% | 2kg |
| Beef tripe | +6% | 2kg |
| Fish | +10% | 2kg |
| Tomatoes | +10% | 6kg |
| Butternut | +5% | 10kg |
| Tinned pilchards | +6% | 400g x6 |
| White bread | +4% | 25 loaves |
Notable Price Decreases YoY
| Item | Change | Per Quantity |
| Maize meal | –15% | 30kg |
| Rice | –15% | 10kg |
| Sugar beans | –19% | 5kg |
| Potatoes | –22% | 10kg |
| Eggs | –8% | 60 eggs |
| Apples | –8% | 3kg |
| Oranges | –5% | 7kg |
| Cremora | –9% | 800g |
Source: PMBEJD May 2026 Household Affordability Index
Pork Prices Expected to Rise
African Swine Flu and Foot-and-Mouth Disease continue to reduce national pig numbers. South Africa slaughters roughly 72,000 pigs per week, and even a 2% supply gap can push pork prices up by 10%.
Meat Retail Price Statistics: May 2026
Annual Price Changes (May 2025 vs May 2026)
Beef remains the strongest inflation driver in the protein category.
| Meat Category | Change |
| Pork | +12.6% |
| Beef | +27.9% |
| Lamb | +9.4% |
| Chicken | –3.5% |
Source: SAPPO Retail Price Statistics
Fuel Price Forecast for July 2026
Oil prices have plunged following news of a US-Iran deal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, however, fuel prices are unlikely to fall to pre-crisis levels until early 2027, according to Bloomberg.
Petrol 93
- (Under)/Over recovery: R2.94
- Fuel Tax added: (R1.50)
- Forecasted Change: R1.44
Petrol 95
- (Under)/Over recovery: R2.90
- Fuel Tax added: (R1.50)
- Forecasted Change: R1.40
Diesel (0.05%)
- (Under)/Over recovery: R4.57
- Fuel Tax added: (R1.96)
- Forecasted Change: R2.61
Diesel (0.005%)
- (Under)/Over recovery: R4.97
- Fuel Tax added: (R1.96)
- Forecasted Change: R3.01
Source: The Citizen
Global Food Inflation – May 2026
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 130.8 points in May 2026, down 0.2% from its revised April level, remaining broadly stable.
Increases in the price indices for cereals and sugar were offset by declines in vegetable oils and dairy products, while the index for meat products remained almost unchanged.
Compared to historical levels, the FFPI in May stood 2.9% higher than a year ago but remained 18.4% below its peak reached in March 2022.
Overall Assessment
Despite a modest monthly increase in the food basket, the underlying pressures remain significant. Key drivers include:
- Sharp increases in fresh produce
- Ongoing livestock disease outbreaks
- Rising global commodity volatility
- Steep fuel price hikes
Households will continue to feel pressure through Q2 and Q3, particularly in proteins, processed meats and transport‑sensitive fresh produce.
