FOOD prices have gone up on average 13.9 per cent over the 12 months to May 2022, according to inflation data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin), but Jamaicans won’t be wrong if they feel that prices have gone way above that level, especially for many of the basic items consumed in the family basket.

The Consumer Affairs Commision, over the last 12 months have tracked food prices and shared with Jamaica Observer that, for the period June 2021 to May 2022, the top five product categories which recorded the highest average price increases included bulk dried salted fish, vegetable cooking oil, bulk counter flour, whole frozen chicken, and bulk white rice.

For the period June 2021 to May 2022

· The average price of bulk dried salted fish (per kg) recorded the highest price change of 56 per cent.

· This was followed by the average price of vegetable cooking oil (500 mL), which increased between 32 per cent and 47 per cent

· The average price of bulk counter flour (per kg) increased by 33 per cent

· The average price of whole frozen chicken (per kg) increased between 31 per cent

and 32 per cent

· The average price of canned corned beef (340 g) increased between 13 per cent and 51 per cent

Other Significant Price Increases

Significant average price increases were also observed among other product categories such as bulk white rice, canned mackerel, and bulk cornmeal:

· The average price of bulk (white) rice (per kg) increased by 26 per cent

· The average price of canned mackerel (in tomato sauce, 155g) increased between 7 per cent and 49 per cent, depending on the brand.

· The average price of bulk cornmeal (per kg) increased by 23 per cent

· The average price of sweetened condensed milk increased between 14 per cent and 18 per cent

· The average price of powdered milk increased (80g) between 9 per cent and 19 per cent

· The average price of canned sardines (in oil, 106g) increased by 13 per cent and 15 per cent

· The average price of pre-packaged brown sugar (per kg) increased by 13 per cent

· The average price of hardough bread (white sliced) increased by 12 per cent

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) conducts regular monthly price surveys of grocery and agricultural products at over 90 grocery outlets located in major towns islandwide. Data are collected on 127 items each month using the basic version of each product on the market.