Beef prices are driving up food inflation in South Africa, as outbreaks of foot and mouth disease take their toll on meat supply and consumer costs.
The effect of animal diseases on retail food prices is shown in South Africa’s inflation statistics for May.
StatsSA reports that, while general inflation held steady, food inflation rose in May, pushed higher by beef price rises following outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in cattle.
General inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) was unchanged from April at 2.8%, StatsSA said. Food price inflation increased to 4.8% from 4% in April – the highest since March 2024 when the rate was 5.1%
“Meat, specifically beef, is a key factor behind the rise in food inflation. The annual rate for meat jumped from 3,0% in April to 4,4% in May. In April, monthly increases for beef products ranged from 6,2% to 11,9%,” it said.
“A widespread outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, combined with higher feed prices, contributed to the rise in beef inflation.”
