Month-on-month the price of the PACSA Food Basket has come down by R14.37 (-0.7%) from R2 068.35 in March 2017 to R2 053.98 in April 2017. Whilst this is a good thing, the price drop is not large enough, nor is it happening fast enough for there to be any substantial relief in the pockets of the majority of South African households.  Read more here

“The economy is about society deciding about how to share its resources so that all people have access to the goods and services they require to live at a level of dignity. All economic policy has to be aimed to serve this purpose.  Because we are trapped, even at a global level, within a particular economic paradigm the possibilities of making good universal decisions and showing solidarity amongst us are not explored. The effect is that we are unable to deal effectively with our socio-economic problems. We have to start thinking about our economy differently.”  Read more here

This month’s May 2017 barometer unpacks and disaggregates Statistics South Africa’s latest jobs statistics for the 1st quarter of 2017 within a broader context of other statistical releases, protests, the world of formal work and the entry into a technical recession. See full media statement and tables here.

As people of faith, we are deeply concerned by the growing inequalities and the impacts on the lives of people everywhere.   Read the full article here

Budget 2017 does not respond to the real context and crisis on what is happening on the ground. We judge Budget 2017 from the perspective of low-income South African households – through the value and increases of the grants; and in relation to company income tax. Budget 2017 is not transformative. Read more here