Cost of living increases

Economy
THE cost of living for an urban family of six has slightly increased with official statistics for last month showing minimal rise of about 0,48% to $564,72

THE cost of living for an urban family of six has slightly increased with official statistics for last month showing a minimal rise of about 0,48% to $564,72 pushed up largely by an increase in food prices.

OWN CORRESPONDENT

The latest figures from the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) indicate the bread basket gained $2,70 to $564,72 in the period driven upwards by a marginal rise in food prices ahead of the festive season.

In the period under review, the food basket increased by $4,19 or 2,78% from $150,76 in November to $154,95 by the end of December.

Increases in prices were recorded in cooking oil which gained 32c from $1,50 to $1,82 per litre. Cabbages gained 16c from 40c to 56c per head while meat prices went up by 30c to $4,80 per kg.

However, decreases in prices were recorded in tomatoes which went down by 12c from 73c to 61c, onions by 5c from 85c to 80c, rice by 4c from $1,59 to $1,55 per 2kg, attributed to a glut in the market ahead of the festive season.

But laundry soap bar went down by 29c from $1,29 to $1,00 while washing powder lost 11c from $1,50 to $1,39 for 500 grammes.

According to CCZ detergents decreased by $1,49 or 12,15% from $12,26 to $10,77 as a result of the festive season promotions on most products.

Prices of the other basic commodities which include fuel, margarine, mealie meal, sugar, tea leaves, bread, salt, flour, fresh milk and bath soap remained unchanged from November figures.

The CCZ survey is conducted twice during the first and the last weeks of every month and the total cost of the food basket and the price of each commodity are arrived at by averaging prices gathered from retail outlets throughout the country.

According to CCZ, the survey is a fairly accurate depiction of the cost of living in urban Zimbabwe.

The consumer lobby continues to urge consumers to shop conscientiously and to always buy certified products and where the products are not certified, to exercise their right to information by carefully examining if the products they are purchasing are well labelled, packaged or provided with vital information such as manufacturing and expiry dates and ingredients used in the make-up of the products.

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