Since February, Nelspruit Post has been comparing the prices of a range of food items from four retailers in the city. The paper gathered that, on average, a trolley containing a collection of basic groceries of similar brands worth R200 to R250 now costs from R20 to R25 more than it did in February.
Also read: Potatoes hit hard by increasing food prices
Store #1
A dozen eggs reached its lowest price since February. After increasing from R19,98 to R22,78 in March, it has gradually decreased to R16,99 in August. A loaf of brown bread now costs R12,39 – about R1,40 more than it did in February. The price of a one-kilogram packet of potatoes increased from R11,99 to R17,99 between February and May, but has decreased to R13,99 again this month. A one-kilogram packet of tomatoes increased from R19,99 to R23,99 in March. In April it cost R19,99 again and this price has persisted until August. A kilogram of bananas cost an average of R10,99 right throughout this period. The price of lean beef mince has spiked. It remained steady at R79,99 between March and May and now costs R90 per kilogram. Fresh chicken portions cost R67,99 per kilogram from February until currently. The price of 750 millilitres cooking oil has gone up. It cost R16,99 in February and now costs R24,99. A kilogram of maize meal rose from R8,99 to R10,99.
Also read: Fresh produce hit by food prices going up
Store #2
A two-litre container of milk now costs R2,00 more than it did in February – it is now priced at R24,79. A dozen jumbo eggs was R23,58 in February. It now costs R43,98. A loaf of brown bread cost R10,49 in February and March. It now costs R11,99. The price of a one-kilogram packet of potatoes decreased from R14,99 to R9,99 between February and April, but its price decreased to R12,99 again this month. The price of a one-kilogram packet of tomatoes increased from R22,99 to R24,99 in April. It now costs nine cents less. A kilogram of bananas cost R8,99 in February and is R6 more. The price of lean beef mince remains steady at R79,99 per kilogram. The price of 750 millilitres cooking oil has gone up. It cost R17,99 in February and now costs R2 more. A kilogram of maize meal costs much more. It cost R9,99 in February and now it is R15,99.
Store #3
This store’s two-litre milk costs R1,50 more than it did in February. Whereas it cost R19,99, it is now priced at R21,49. A dozen eggs was R29,99 six months ago and now costs less at R24,98. A loaf of brown bread was priced at R9,99 in February and increased to R11,99 in June. It still costs the same. The price of a kilogram of potatoes was R12,99 in February. By June it cost R14,99. It now costs R13,50. The same quantity of tomatoes went from R16,99 in February to R8,99 in August. The price of bananas was reduced from R10,99 to R8,99 in May, but now costs R10,99 again. A kilogram of lean beef mince is R96,49 in February, dropped to R69,99 in June and now is R82,99. Frozen chicken portions cost R60,39 in February, R57,28 in May and are now priced at R48,99. A kilogram of sugar cost R17,99 in February and now costs a rand less.
Also read: Six interesting facts about South African food products
Store #4
This store’s two-litre milk containers cost R21,99 in February. By April, it still cost the same. This month it is R26,99. A dozen eggs was priced at R23,98 in February and cost R27,98 in April. It cost R37,98 in August. When Nelspruit Post’s survey began, a loaf of brown bread cost R10,99. It cost R13,99 in July and is now priced at R12,39. A kilogram of potatoes cost R10,99 in February and still costs the same.
Lean beef mince was priced at R77,99 per kilogram in February. Its price was reduced to R69,99 in July and it still costs the same. Fresh chicken portions cost R48,99 per kilogram in February and still cost the same. Cooking oil cost R37,99 for 750 millilitres in February but the price was drastically reduced to R21,99 in March. It now costs R24,99. Maize meal cost R8,99 per kilogram when the newspaper’s survey started. It now costs R2 more. A kilogram of sugar cost R17,99 in February and now costs R18,99.
However, shoppers need not dispair. Local newspaper readers benefit from the printed specials advertised by the city’s retailers on a weekly basis. Nelspruit Post’s follow up report will focus on advertised specials and how readers can save.
