By Akani Nkuna
South Africa’s household affordability index is expected to stabilise in 2026, buoyed by good summer rains and a firmer rand that could ease pressure on key food prices, the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) said.
PMBEJD Programme Coordinator Mervyn Abrahams told Inside Politics that improved local growing conditions and favourable currency dynamics were expected to support lower food inflation through the year.
“Our expectations for 2026 is that the prices will continue to be stable and that food inflation is likely to come down slightly. The reason for our expectation is based on the fact that we have had good rains across the summer and we expect good harvests to come in,” he said.
“The rand has also been doing very well against the US dollar, which should also have a lowering impact on input costs for farmers. Petrol prices have also come down a
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