THE FUSE

Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has welcomed the latest drop in food inflation while warning that rising fuel costs continue to threaten agricultural stability. The latest Consumer Price Index update from Statistics South Africa shows a clear easing in food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation. This comes as a relief to consumers who have faced sustained pressure on household budgets over the past year. However, the Minister stressed that the improvement at retail level does not reflect the full reality facing producers. He highlighted that energy costs are now becoming the most serious risk to long term food price stability.