South African households are feeling renewed pressure at supermarket tills, with the cost of a basic household food basket rising in January, even though prices remain slightly lower than a year ago. The January 2026 Household Affordability Index shows the average cost of a household food basket increased to R5 401,44, up R67,99 (1,3%) from R5 333,45 in December. However, on a year-on-year basis, the basket is R32,26 cheaper (-0,6%) than in January 2025, when it stood at R5 433,70.
The index tracks the prices of 44 basic food items across supermarkets and butcheries in major centres including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba and Springbok. In January, 26 of the 44 food items increased in price, while 17 items became cheaper and one remained unchanged. Some of the steepest monthly increases were recorded in fresh produce.
Other notable increases included carrots (8%), soup (7%), Cremora (milk powder) (7%), cabbage (6%) and frozen chicken portions (5%). Staple items also edged higher, with rice up 3%, salt up 4%, eggs up 4%, polony up 4%, and peanut butter and margarine both rising by 2%. There was some relief at the till, with green peppers dropping by 10% and chicken feet falling by 6%.
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