Shoprite has cautioned the government about basing economic decisions on CPI inflation data, as South Africa’s leading retailer’s own calculations on food inflation reveal a marked difference.
Group CEO Pieter Engelbrecht said Tuesday in a briefing yesterday that, for instance, official food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation in December came in at 4,7%. This figure, he said, was based on a static basket of goods that reflected life conditions during 2023, when, for instance, there was load shedding, and candles were an important product.
He said Shoprite calculated its own food inflation, which was 0,7% in December 2025, based on 56,000-line items that are bought by customers, compared with the price of the goods a year before.
“We do believe our own figure is a true reflection of what the consumer…
