THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) says the price of beef has been rising consistently since July, a development that has been pushing the cost of living up. Business Reporter
The cost of living as measured using the CCZ’s low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six rose slightly from the October 2012 figure of $572,18 to $572,63 by the end of November.
The food basket marginally rose from $160,01 to $160,22 during the same period.
“Of all the commodities on the basket, meat has shown a consistent upward increase in price as from July 2012,” the consumer watchdog said in its latest monthly price report.
According to the report, the price of beef rose by 70 cents from an average of $5,10/kg to $5,80/kg.
The survey is conducted twice during the first and the last week of the month.
The cost of the food basket and the price of each commodity are arrived at by averaging prices gathered from retail outlets throughout the country.
Movers in the basket A 2kg packet of white sugar went up 5c from $2,10 to $2,15, 500 ml of fresh milk rose by 3c from $0,70 to $0,73.
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A 750ml bottle of cooking oil jumped 15c from $1,55 to $1,70, a 2kg rice by 1c from $1,79 to $1,80, while the price of meat went up 70c from $5,10 to $5,80. A 500g packet of washing powder rose by 8c from $1,35 to $1, 43.
Shakers in the basket Decreases in prices were recorded for 500g margarine which dropped by 26c from $2,41 to $2,15, a 20kg roller meal by 70c from $11,00 to $10,30, 500g of tea leaves by 56c from $2,15 to $1,59.
A 2kg packet of flour went down 6c from $1,95 to $1,89 and laundry bars by 2c from $1,55 to $1,53.
Non movers The prices of the other basic commodities, among them, bread, salt, onions, cabbage, bath and laundry soaps did not change from the October 2012 figures.
CCZ encouraged consumers to shop conscientiously and to always buy certified products.
It said where the products were not certified, consumers must exercise their right to information by carefully examining if the products they are purchasing are well labelled, packaged and provided with vital information.
