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Business Reporter
THE cost of living has increased slightly compared to last month, a development attributed to the introduction of Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016.
In its monthly family basket report for July, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) noted an increase in the price of detergents and some basic commodities.
“The cost of living as measured by the CCZ low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from the end June figure of $567,38 to $567,91 end of July, showing an increase of $0,53 or 0,09 percent,” said CCZ.
“The food basket decreased by $0, 19 or 0,15 percent from $122, 79 by end-June to $122, 60 by end-July 2016. The price of detergents increased by $0, 72 or 6, 8 percent from $10, 59 to $11, 31.
“As CCZ we assume that the slight increase is due to the import ban which was imposed by the government. The competition in the country has been reduced, hence retailers tend to increase prices.”
A decrease in prices was recorded in margarine, cooking oil, rice, tomatoes, onions, cabbages and bath soap.
There were price increases recorded for tea leaves, mealie-meal, salt, washing powder and laundry bar.
The consumer watchdog organisation said the price of sugar, bread, milk, flour and meat remained unchanged from the end of June 2016 figures.
The price of the total basket for June 2016 only decreased by $0,10 as compared to that of May 2016, which CCZ assumed was caused by the prevailing cash shortages.
CCZ said it continued “to encourage consumers to shop conscientiously and to always buy certified products”.
“Where the products are not certified, consumers need to exercise their right to information by carefully examining if the products they are purchasing are well labelled, packaged and provided with vital information such as manufacturing and expiry dates and ingredients used in the make-up of the products.”
CCZ conducts the food basket surveys twice monthly, during the first and last week of each month.
@BiancaMlilo
Online Reporter