From boerie to broke: R2 160 for a Saturday afternoon braai

The only people dancing for joy about the drop in the inflation rate are those who don’t do the monthly grocery shopping. Those who do know there is little to be happy about.

Food inflation declined to 4.5% in June 2024, but the real reason for this is that the latest round of price increases comes off the already high prices of a year ago. Food is still expensive.

The only people dancing for joy about the drop in the inflation rate are those who don’t do the monthly grocery shopping. Those who do know there is little to be happy about.

Food inflation declined to 4.5% in June 2024, but the real reason for this is that the latest round of price increases comes off the already high prices of a year ago. Food is still expensive.

A few hundred rand is not enough when running into the grocery store for a few things – just a couple of essentials that would barely cover the bottom of a shopping trolley.

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A jar of coffee has increased dramatically in price since a year ago. Statistics SA notes in commentary to its latest inflation report that the price of instant coffee increased by nearly 22% over the last year, with the prices of other hot drinks not far behind.

“Hot beverages continue to witness high inflation rates,” says Stats SA.

“The price index for the category increased sharply by 17,6% in the 12 months to July, up from 16,5% recorded in June.

“Large annual price increases were recorded for instant coffee (up 21,8%), drinking chocolate (up 17,7%), black tea (up 15,7%), ground coffee and coffee beans (up 14,6%) and rooibos tea (up 11,1%).”

Cappuccino sachets recorded the lowest price increase in this category over the past 12 months, with an increase of below 8% – but they have been expensive relative to their dry ingredients for forever.

A lot less in the bag or a lot more out of the wallet

The price data that Stats SA collected from retailers in urban areas across the country shows that a few bags of essential grocery items that would have cost around R1 000 five years ago – before the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the drop in the value of the rand stoked inflation – now costs R1 466.

Five years of price increases (R)
		July 2019	July 2024	Increase
Cheddar cheese	250g	52.00	75.00	44.2%
Broccoli	1 packet	21.57	29.69	37.6%
Frozen vegetables	1kg	37.65	51.54	36.9%
Mushrooms	250g	23.25	31.68	36.3%
Sweet potatoes	1kg	17.15	23.34	36.1%
White bread	700g	13.83	18.68	35.1%
Curry powder	100g	21.01	27.80	32.3%
Milk	2 x 2 litre	54.00	72.00	33.3%
Bacon	2 x 200g	62.00	81.00	30.6%
Lamb chops	1kg	151.11	190.81	26.3%
Cool drink	2 litres	19.40	24.34	25.5%
Potato crisps	125g	16.38	19.99	22.0%
Lettuce	Each	14.02	15.40	9.8%
Total		R1,003.65	R 1,466.85	46.2%

A tin of instant coffee has increased by nearly 86% over the last five years, with Stats SA’s survey reflecting the average price of coffee, including the cheaper coffee and chicory blends.

The increase in pure coffee has been even worse.

Frozen potato chips and potatoes are high on the list too, as are eggs, sugar and bath soap and shampoo. Another necessity – toilet paper – has increased by 45% since 2019.

Nou gaan ons braai

The popular braai on a summer afternoon has become expensive too. Long gone are the days when the average South African would invite their friends and provide everything.

If you were to cater for two couples and four children in the true SA tradition of too much meat, salad and braaibroodjies, and hours of complaining about government and the petrol price with a drink in the hand, the price of a first class braai will hit you R2 000 at best.

Five years ago, the braai would have cost less than R1 700.

The relatively small increase of 26% in the cost of the party, compared to the cost of general groceries, mainly relates to the increase in the cost of meat.

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The price of alcohol, a big part of the festivities, hasn’t increased much either.

First on the shopping list would be three bottles of wine for the wine drinkers. Everybody knows one bottle is not enough, and experience has taught many that neither are two.

Beer, brandy and Coke for the rest, and cool drinks and fruit juice to keep the kids happy.

South Africans like meat. Stats SA usually notes in its commentary on food inflation that meat has a high weighting in the food index, and there are usually a few pieces of meat left after the guests have gone home.

Shopping list for a proper braai
		July 2019	July 2024	Increase
White wine	3 bottles	168.75	213.51	27%
Beer	12	160.80	206.16	28%
Brandy	1 bottle	171.07	201.27	18%
Coke	4 bottles	77.60	97.36	25%
Fruit juice	2 boxes	43.90	70.10	60%
Potato crisps	3 packets	49.14	59.97	22%
Sweet biscuits	2 packets	32.58	52.10	60%
Savoury biscuits	2 packets	44.72	64.28	44%
Beef sirloin	1kg	130.66	163.47	25%
Lamb chops	2kg	302.22	381.62	26%
Sausage	2kg	162.24	196.06	21%
Potatoes	1kg	12.27	19.72	61%
White bread	2 loaves	27.66	37.36	35%
Cheddar cheese	500g	52.30	76.16	46%
Brick margarine	500g	21.54	29.31	36%
Tomatoes	500g	9.99	13.32	33%
Onions	500g	7.42	12.63	70%
Avocados	Two	28.08	29.85	6%
Lettuce	One	28.04	30.80	10%
Cucumber	One	11.69	16.54	41%
Mayonnaise	375g	27.66	45.09	63%
Salad dressing	375ml	27.89	35.38	27%
Custard	1 litre	27.75	33.73	22%
Ice cream	2 litres	54.33	74.32	37%
Total		1,680.3	2,160.11	29%

In round numbers, four pieces of steak for the adults, and chops and wors for the kids will cost around R750 today.

The list also includes chips and biscuits to snack on while waiting for the coals and the ingredients for a potato salad and a green salad. Bread, onions, tomato and cheese are needed because a braai is not a braai without braaibroodjies.

It is not surprising that bring-and-braai has become the standard. The only other option is a chicken and viennas, with baked beans and pasta instead of salads.

This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.