South African staple foods came under mixed pressure in April 2026. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) household affordability index shows that 30 items in its monthly basket rose in price.
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The basket rose by R123.56 (2.3%) from March to April, reaching R5,452.09. Yellow maize meal, frozen chicken portions and rice posted the largest increases. Stats SA’s latest figures for March show overall food inflation cooled to 3.6%. Eggs are 6.3% cheaper than a year ago and the milk, dairy and eggs category recorded a tenth consecutive month of year on year price decline.
The PMBEJD basket measures a standardised list of items at low cost stores in five South African cities. Stats SA tracks a broader consumer basket.
Sources: PMBEJD, The Mercury Business Report, Statistics South Africa
