JOHANNESBURG - South African consumers are under growing financial strain.
This, according to the latest Household Affordability Index.
Rising fuel and food prices continue to squeeze budgets.
The data highlights how higher transport costs driven by global oil prices are feeding into everyday expenses.
While government has introduced temporary relief measures, concerns remain that these may not be enough to offset a sustained increase in the cost of basic goods.
Mervyn Abrahams from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group said the spike in April was concerning.
"In April, we saw a massive spike of R123.56 or a 2.3 percent increase, which is the highest single-month increase this basket has seen over more than a year.
"So the level of the spike is concerning."
Abrahams said 30 out of our 44 foods have increased in price, and this suggests that the increase is at the level of logistics.
"It's at the level of the transportation of food from manufacturing to the retail companies and those costs are now being fed through to the consumer."
Abrahams said food is not the only thing households have to pay for.
"When households earn a minimum wage, they have paid for their transport and electricity, which leaves on average around R1,800 to R2,000 to buy food for a household of four, which divides per person somewhere around R473," he said.
"The margins are extremely tight, and when we see any spikes, it has a detrimental impact on households in terms of the diversity and nutrition of the food and that feeds through into educational and health outcomes and eventually into economic outcomes."