Food Inflation Statistics

 

Month-on-Month Comparisons (March 2025 vs. April 2025)

The Household Affordability Index reported that the cost of the average household food basket increased by R90,94 (1.7%), rising to R5 420,30 in April 2025.

 

Price Changes in Poultry Products

• Frozen chicken portions decreased by R3,00 (-3%) per 10kg.
• Chicken feet decreased by R2,50 (-3%) per 2kg.
• Gizzards decreased by R1,80 (-2%) per 2kg.
• Chicken livers decreased by R2,10 (-2%) per 2kg.

 

Notable Price Increases (Month-on-Month)

• Tomatoes +26%
• Carrots +20%
• Onions +11%
• Beef +7%
• Fish +7%
• Spinach +7%
• Cabbage +6%
• Green pepper +7%
• Bananas +7%
• Oranges +18%

 

Notable Price Decreases (Month-on-Month)

• Butternut -7%
• Apples -6%
• Rice -4%
• Cake flour -2%
• Sugar beans -3%
• Salt -2%
• Stock cubes -2%
• Soup -3%
• Tea -3%
• Margarine -2%
• Peanut butter -2%

 

Year-on-Year Comparisons (April 2024 vs. April 2025)

The Household Affordability Index reported that the cost of the average household food basket increased by R84,99 (1.6%), rising from R5 336,31 in April 2024 to R5 420,30 in April 2025.

 

Notable Price Increases (Year-on-Year)

• Maize meal +18%
• Green pepper +15%
• Sugar beans +11%
• Samp +11%
• Cabbage +9%
• Apples +8%
• Soup +7%
• Tea +7%
• Tomatoes +7%
• White sugar +6%
• Stock cubes +6%
• Bananas +5%

 

Notable Price Decreases (Year-on-Year)

• Oranges -42%
• Butternut -17%
• Potatoes -6%
• Carrots -15%
• Beef and wors -4%
• White bread -4%
• Eggs -3%
• Full cream milk -3%
• Cake flour -2%

 

VAT on Essential Food Items

The Household Affordability Index states that 22 out of 44 foods in the total household food basket are subject to VAT, making up 47% of the total household food basket.

VAT on the total household food basket came to R324,01 in April 2025, amounting to 6.1% of the household food basket.

 

VAT Budget Announcement 2025 – Revised

Following the Western Cape High Court ruling, the planned VAT increase has been officially suspended, keeping the VAT rate at 15% instead of the proposed 15.5%.

A recent media release by National Treasury stated:

“The decision not to increase VAT means that the measures to cushion lower income households against the potential negative impact of the rate increase now need to be withdrawn and other expenditure decisions revisited.”

The withdrawal of measures to support lower-income households in response to the proposed rate increase indicates that the plan for VAT-exempt food items has been withdrawn.

The Minister of Finance expects to introduce a revised version of the Appropriation Bill and Division of Revenue Bill within the next few weeks.

ChickenFacts will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as they unfold.

 

Global Food Inflation

Global food prices rose in April, driven by increases in major cereals, meat, and dairy products. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 128.3 points, up 1.0% from March and 7.6% from last year.

Key points:

• Cereal Prices: Up 1.2% from March, with wheat and rice prices increasing due to demand and tighter supplies.
• Maize Prices: Increased due to tighter stock levels in the US.
• Meat Prices: Rose 3.2% across all meat categories, led by pig meat.
• Dairy Prices: Up 2.4% from March, with butter prices hitting an all-time high.
• Vegetable Oil Prices: Fell by 2.3%, though still higher than last year, with varying trends across palm, soy, and rapeseed oils.
• Sugar Prices: Dropped 3.5% due to concerns over global economic outlook.

 

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)