The cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six, ended 2012 lower as prices of basic commodities remained stable. Business Reporter
The monthly basket decreased to $572,63 from the November figure of $572,63. According to the statistics released by the consumer watchdog, the food basket marginally increased to $160,98 in December from $160,22 in November. The cost of detergents decreased by 10,37% to $12,02 from $13.41 from the previous month.
Movers in the basket A 500g margarine went up 15c to $2,30 from $2,15; a 20kg roller meal by 8c from $10,30 to $10,38; salt 500g rose 1c to $0,21 from.
Shakers in the basket The price of a 250g tea leaves decreased by 9c to $1,50 from $1,59, that of a 750ml cooking oil bottle decreased by 15c to $1,55 from $1,70 while that of onions went down 3c to $0,99 from $1,02.
Non-movers The prices of the other basic commodities among them bread, sugar, fresh milk, flour, bath soap and rice did not change from the November 2012 figures.
The survey is conducted twice during the first and the last weeks of the month.
The total cost of the food basket and the price of each commodity are arrived at by averaging prices gathered from retail outlets throughout the country.
Finance minister Tendai Biti in his November monthly economic update said local prices of commodities had remained steady.
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“Notwithstanding declines recorded in the prices for most commodities, grains remained expensive throughout 2012, having risen by 12% above their levels last year,” he said then.
