Prices of canned pilchards, maize and eggs have come down, while sunflower oil remains at its highest since 2021. According to the Competition Commission Essential Food Price Monitoring Report, which tracks selected food prices throughout the value chains, some food prices have started falling, albeit modestly.
The commission says this is a positive sign that some foods continue to ease, and producers and retailers are starting to adjust prices accordingly.
The Competition Commission has been tracking essential food prices since the advent of COVID-19.
The commission continues to monitor the price of essential food items identified by the public, such as sunflower oil, brown bread, eggs, IQF chicken and maize meal.
In the 12th edition of the Essential Food Price Monitoring Report, egg prices were found to be cheaper than they were in November 2023. The commission says this suggests a recovery in the sector enabled by various private and public measures.
Competition Commission Spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga says, “The main focus for this inquiry was looking into food products like sunflower oil, brown bread, eggs, canned pilchard, as well as maize meal. This is the 12th instalment of the essential food pricing monitoring report, and it coincides with the commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day as well as the Human Rights Day, both these annually observed events are celebrated on the 15th and the 21st of March.”
The report also observed lower average retail prices for brown bread during the period under review. And in the last six months, it also saw that the producer-to-retail spread of canned pilchards has been on a downward trend. The commission says this illustrates the restraint shown by producers and retailers in their pricing behaviour for canned pilchards.
“Egg producer prices are currently cheaper than they were in November 2022, the producer to retain spread of canned filters has been on a downward trend in the last six months, and this illustrates that there is strength shown by users and retailers in the pricing behaviour for canned pilchards,” Makunga adds.
Meanwhile, for white maize, higher prices have not been fully transmitted to the producer and retail prices.
Following the 2024/25 maize marketing season facing challenges due to the midsummer dryness experienced between February to March 2024, the commission says this is a valuable time for the development of next season’s crops.
