Wednesday, June 29, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Households spending more on food—report

by Grace Phiri
29/01/2021
in Business News, Editors Pick
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Households in urban areas are spending an average of 56 percent of their expenditure on food, a development that shows that food prices are on the rise, published figures from the World Food Programme (WFP) show.

The WFP Malawi Minimum Expenditure Basket analysis indicates that since April 2020,  the percentage share of food for urban dwellers has remained within the range of 55 and 57 percent with the  Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (Smeb) increasing by 0.6 percent to K62 405 in December.

However, Smeb in the rural areas has remained low at K37 632 (North), K39 355 (Centre) and K43 417 (South).

Reads the analysis in part: “The overall Smeb remains higher in the South due to high maize prices and high prices of a few non-food components, notably fuel wood and milling which are usually higher inthe Southern Region compared to prices for the same commodities in the Central and Northern regions.

“The overall survival minimum expenditure basket for the North remains the lowest of the three rural regions due to low prices for cereal and pulses, which form a major component of the basket.”

During the review period, charcoal prices increased by 6.8 percent while laundry and bath soap increased by five percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, according to the report.

Economic statistician Alick Nyasulu said in an interview that since Malawi’s inflation is mainly food-based, the rise points to emerging food shortages in rural areas and for this period, which is often seasonal.

“For sure, most households are running out of food and will continue to struggle to have proper meals. Most households often sell their produce soon after harvest at very low prices,” he said.

On his part, Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito said the figures raise serious concerns on how, as a country, Malawi has failed to combat poverty over the years.

“This is a reflection of total mismanagement of various policies and programmes to address matters of abject poverty in peri-urban and rural areas,” he said.

In Malawi, poverty levels were projected to worsen in the just-ended year to 56.3 percent from 50.5 percent as the measures which were effected to reduce the Covid-19 spread had reduced household incomes by an average of 11.4 percent, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.

National Statistical Office figures show that year-on-year urban inflation rate for December 2020 stood at 4.3 percent with urban food and non-food year-on-year inflation rates at 5.6 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.

On the other hand, the rural year-on-year inflation rate stood at 10.2 percent, with the rural food and non-food year-on-year inflation rates at 12.9 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.

Previous Post

Dairy firm invests K75m in new plant, doubles output

Next Post

‘Diversification key to benefiting from AfCFTA’

Related Posts

Business News

Tobacco firm pushes for legislation review

June 28, 2022
Business News

MALDECO takes recovery mode

June 28, 2022
Editors Pick

They deserved to die too—Masambuka

June 28, 2022
Next Post
Open borders will facilitate movement of goods and services

‘Diversification key to benefiting from AfCFTA’

Opinions and Columns

My Turn

US court threatens women’s rights

June 29, 2022
People’s Tribunal

Two years later and we are still singing same song

June 26, 2022
Big Man Wamkulu

Wife’s relatives have taken over my house

June 26, 2022
My Thought

Stop cyber harassment

June 26, 2022

Malawi-Music.com Top10

Trending Stories

  • ACB cleared Sattar contract—Documents

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Britain squeezes Zuneth Sattar

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MET says cold, wet weather will continue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mwanamvekha wants his case dismissed

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • K243bn Malawi trade deal on rocks

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.