August 2021 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: 2021 General Elections Pivotal but the Nation’s Development more Critical

The cost of living for a family of five as measured by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for July 2021 in Lusaka stood at K8, 495.52, a K6.04 increase from the K8, 489.48 recorded in June. The minimal increase in the basket is attributed to upward price movements in items such as soya pieces which rose by K54.26 from K119.11 to K173.37 for 2kg. The price of 40kg of vegetables went up by K50.53 from K466.55 to K517.88, 16kg of bananas also increased by K21.59 moving from K195.46 to K217.05, 1kg pounded groundnut went up by K21.86 to K61.22 from K39.36 and 2 kg of beef increased by K15.51, moving from K139.63 to K155.14. These price increases were however offset by price declines in items such as other fruits which went down by K115.35 for 14kg, 3kg of beans which reduced by K10.99 moving from K120.48 to K109.49 and 250g of tea that reduced by K10.71 to 41.86 from K52.57. No notable price movements were recorded on the essential non-food items.