#ThrowbackThursday: How grocery costs have skyrocketed over 24 years

Food is one of the basic necessities of life.

Nevertheless, what was once a mere grocery run has turned into a worrisome experience for most.

As consumers navigate the aisles, the stress now is to ensure that their purses stretch far enough to cover even the bare essentials.

This #ThrowbackThursday, the Newcastle Advertiser takes a look back at how drastically food prices have moved by comparing how much it costs to buy a ‘basic food basket’ from 2001 to 2025.

In 2001, the average cost of a typical food basket was around R600.

Today, the same basket costs around R2 500; more than four times that of 24 years ago.

Let’s see what has changed.

2001 basic food basket:

• White sliced bread: R4.45
• Brown Sliced Bread: R4.06
• 2.5kg flour: R11.00
• 1kg French polony: R17.96
• 500g Pork sausages: R16.07
• 250g Rindless back bacon: R14.22
• 250g Streaky bacon: R12.73
• 1kg Pork chops: R28.58
• 1kg Lamb chops: R40.38
• 1kg Boerewors: R27.80
• 1kg Brisket: R24.03
• 1kg Beef mince: R25.19
• 1kg Beef stewing meat: R27.30
• 1 whole frozen chicken: R16.41
• Cheddar cheese: R38.29
• 1l Sachet fresh low-fat milk: R4.58
• 1l Sachet full cream milk: R4.39
• 2l Fresh full cream milk: R9.80
• 2l Fresh low-fat milk: R10.22
• 1l Longlife full cream milk: R6.55
• 30 Eggs: R 25.53
• 1.5kg Granny Smith apples: R8.61
• 1kg Bananas: R4.45
• 2.5kg Oranges: R8.44
• 1kg Jungle Oats: R13.05
• 2.5kg Sugar: R11.80
• 2kg Rice: R8.59
• 750g Ricoffy: R25.30
• 100 Glen tea bags: R10.42
• 2l Coca Cola: R9.45
• 410g Smooth peanut butter: R8.99
• 5kg maize meal: R14.07
• 750ml Cooking oil: R6.05
• 500g Margarine block: R7.28
• 1kg Onions: R4.95
• 7kg Potatoes: R15.68
• 1kg Tomatoes: R9.20

2025 basic food basket:

• White sliced bread: R18.9
• Brown Sliced Bread: R16.99
• 2.5kg flour: R41.99
• 1kg French polony: R64.99
• 500g Pork sausages: R59.99
• 250g Rindless back bacon: R49.99
• 250g Streaky bacon: R39.99
• 1kg Pork chops: R89.99
• 1kg Lamb chops: R169.99
• 1kg Boerewors: R119.99
• 1kg Brisket: R139.99
• 1kg Beef mince: R114.99
• 1kg Beef stewing meat: R129.99
• 1 whole frozen chicken: R79.99
• Cheddar cheese: R79.99
• 1l Sachet fresh low-fat milk: R14.99
• 1l Sachet full cream milk: R14.99
• 2l Fresh full cream milk: R36.99
• 2l Fresh low-fat milk: R36.99
• 1l Longlife full cream milk: R20.99
• 30 Eggs: R89.99
• 1.5kg Granny Smith Apples: R29.99
• 1kg Bananas: R39.99
• 2.5kg Oranges: R39.99
• 1kg Jungle Oats: R46.99
• 2.5kg Sugar: R58.99
• 2kg Rice: R44.99
• 750g Ricoffy: R130.00
• 100 Glen tea bags: R39.99
• 2l Coca Cola: R26.99
• 410g Smooth peanut butter: R44.99
• 5kg maize meal: R76.99
• 750ml Cooking oil: R29.99
• 500g Margarine block: R15.99
• 1kg Onions: R26.99
• 7kg Potatoes: R59.99
• 1kg Tomatoes: R29.99

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).