The South African Braai Index has bad news for braai lovers
You know things look grim when even a lekker braai is at risk.
If you're planning to braai this month, you might want to take a rain check on that.
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Most South Africans love a good braai, but times are tough, and it's showing.
Bloomberg has developed the South African Braai Index using data from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group (PMBEJD).
PMBEJD's data collectors track food prices on the shelves of 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries that target low-income markets in the greater areas of Springbok, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Mtubatuba.
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This Braai Index tracks the prices of key ingredients in a shisanyama/braai – corn meal, onions, carrots, tomatoes, curry powder, salt, frozen chicken portions, beef and wors.
According to the index, food prices have risen significantly, with a typical braai basket increasing by 4.0% in April compared to March 2025.
It has also increased by 4.03% year-on-year from April 2024.
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Vegetables are to blame for the steeper costs in April, with tomatoes and carrots seeing a sharp price hike of 26% and 20% from March.
Over a more extended period, maize meal stands out as the most significant driver of cost increases, rising by 21% compared to April 2024.
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This index shows the clear signs of the broader pressures on food prices in the country.
Here is the month-on-month index change:
Here is the year-on-year index change:
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Main image courtesy of iStock