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Business Reporter
THE cost of living declined marginally by 0.65 percent to $579.15 last month from $582.92 in March due to sales promotions being run by large retail outlets, data from the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) shows.

The consumer watchdog based its findings on the cost of living for an urban low-income earner for a family of six.

It noted that the cost of living as measured by CCZ’s low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six decreased from the end-March figure of $582.92 to $579.15 by end of April 2017.

“The food basket decreased by $4.37 from $138.17 by end-March to $133.80 by end-April 2017. The price of detergents increased by $0.60 or 5.6 percent from $10.75 to $11.35,” said the consumer watchdog.

It said price decreases were recorded in meat by $0.05 from $4.45 to $4.40, tomatoes by $0.05 from $0.85 to $0.80, tea leaves by $0.08 from $1.73 to $1.65, milk by $0.04 from $0.59 to $0.55, cooking oil by 0.06 from $1.45 to $1.39, bread by $0.10 from $0.80 to $0.70, rice by $0.14 from $1.99 to $1.85 and mealie meal by $0.14 from $11.99 to $11.85.

However, increases were recorded in margarine $0.01 from $1.04 to $1.05, sugar by $0.10 from $1.78 to $1.88, flour by $0.25 from $1.55 to $1.80, onions by $0.50 from $0.65 to $1.15 and washing powder by $0.20 from $1.25 to $1.45.

CCZ added that the price of salt and cabbage remained unchanged from the end-March figure. The consumer watchdog concluded that the decrease in prices was due to promotions on various commodities in some supermarkets such as the OK Grand Challenge promotion and that consumers have less money to spend.

“The CCZ continues to encourage consumers to shop conscientiously and to always buy certified products. Where the products are not certified, 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,” it said.