News / National
Cost of living goes up
04 Aug 2014 at 07:17hrs | Views
National Foods
THE cost of living went up by a marginal 0,03 percent last month due to an increase in the prices of some basic commodities.
A survey by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) carried out using an urban low-income earner for a family of six, showed that the cost of living increased from $588,97 in June to $589,14 last month.
"The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from June 2014 figure of$588.97 to $589.14 by end of July 2014, showing an increase of 17c or 0.03 percent.
"The food basket increased by $1.54 or 7.77 percent from $144.57 by end June 2014 to $146.11 by end of July 2014, as a result of the increase in price of meat and tea," said CCZ executive director Rosemary Siyachitema.
Price increases during the period under review were recorded in beef and tea whose prices went up 31 cents to $4.30 a kg and 27 cents to $1.87 respectively.
Decreases in prices were recorded in tomatoes which went down by 40 cents from $1.20 to 80 cents, onions by 40 cents from $1.45 to $1.05, washing powder by 31 cents from $1.20 to 89 cents, bath soap by 11 cents from 70 cents to 59 cents, sugar by 9 cents from $1.79 to $1.70, rice by five cents from $1.64 to $1.59, flour by four cents from $1.89 to $1.85 and salt by a cent to 19 cents.
"The price of detergents decreased by $1.37 or 13.17 percent from $10.40 to $9.03 as a result of the decrease in price of washing powder and bath soap.
"Prices for other basic commodities that include margarine, mealie meal, fresh milk, cooking oil, bread, cabbage and laundry bars remained unchanged from the June 2014 figures.
"The CCZ continues to encourage 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 and provided with vital information such as manufacturing and expiry dates and ingredients used in the make-up of the products," said Siyachitema.
A survey by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) carried out using an urban low-income earner for a family of six, showed that the cost of living increased from $588,97 in June to $589,14 last month.
"The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from June 2014 figure of$588.97 to $589.14 by end of July 2014, showing an increase of 17c or 0.03 percent.
"The food basket increased by $1.54 or 7.77 percent from $144.57 by end June 2014 to $146.11 by end of July 2014, as a result of the increase in price of meat and tea," said CCZ executive director Rosemary Siyachitema.
Decreases in prices were recorded in tomatoes which went down by 40 cents from $1.20 to 80 cents, onions by 40 cents from $1.45 to $1.05, washing powder by 31 cents from $1.20 to 89 cents, bath soap by 11 cents from 70 cents to 59 cents, sugar by 9 cents from $1.79 to $1.70, rice by five cents from $1.64 to $1.59, flour by four cents from $1.89 to $1.85 and salt by a cent to 19 cents.
"The price of detergents decreased by $1.37 or 13.17 percent from $10.40 to $9.03 as a result of the decrease in price of washing powder and bath soap.
"Prices for other basic commodities that include margarine, mealie meal, fresh milk, cooking oil, bread, cabbage and laundry bars remained unchanged from the June 2014 figures.
"The CCZ continues to encourage 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 and provided with vital information such as manufacturing and expiry dates and ingredients used in the make-up of the products," said Siyachitema.
Source - Chronicle
