People living on limited budgets have to prioritise what they buy. For their Household Affordability Index, the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD) tracks the prices of 44 items that are typically bought by women in low-income households of seven members.

The data includes items that women buy first to ensure their families are fed. The charts above highlight the price changes over five years for nine items considered essential, such as maize meal, rice and bread.

To buy just these items costs R2,900 a month. The price of sugar beans, a key staple, has risen by 155% in the past five years.

The priority foods may be filling, but include only two vegetables. Adding diversity to the meals with vegetables, proteins and other nutrients would cost an additional R2,475 a month. Prices of fruits and vegetables also tend to fluctuate seasonally, which can strain budgets even further.