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Food prices rise again as household costs edge higher in October — PMBEJD
Cape Times
|October 30, 2025
THE Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) has raised concern over another increase in the cost of household food baskets, warning that poor and low-income households are being pushed deeper into food insecurity.
According to PMBEJD’s October 2025 Household Affordability Index, the average cost of the household food basket rose by R61.18 (1.1%) month-on-month, from R5 379.42 in September to R5 440.60 in October.
Year-on-year, the cost increased by R91.95 (1.7%) from R5 348.65 in October 2024.
The rise in household costs comes despite recent data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) showing that food inflation slowed for the second consecutive month, easing to 4.4% in September 2025 from 5.2% in August.
Mervyn Abrahams, PMBEJD director, said several staple foods saw notable price increases during October.
This story is from the October 30, 2025 edition of Cape Times.
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