The average national survival minimum expenditure basket (Smeb) cost increased by four percent in June 2025 to K219 200 from K211 200 the previous month.
This means a typical household spent K 8 000 more in June than in May to meet its essential needs.
Monitored by World Food Programme (WFP) Malawi since April 2020, the Smeb represents the minimum cost required to meet basic food and non-food needs through market purchases over a period of a month.
The food commodities used in calculating the expenditure are those that make up a traditional rural and urban diet.
In its June 2025 Malawi Markets and Minimum Expenditure Basket Monitoring Bulletin, WFP said expenditure, particularly on food, rose the most in the urban areas as compared to the rural areas, emanating from sharp rises in the prices of maize and beans.
Reads the bulletin in part: “The food basket now costs K191 900 per month, a five percent increase since May.
“Nominal expenditure has increased by about 50 percent since June last year and is currently four times the cost of the April 2020 basket.”
According to WFP, Smeb costs vary by location, with urban households facing the highest expenditure at K275 600 per month in June.
This compares to K221 800 in the rural South, K212 200 in the rural Centre, and K204 800 in the rural North.
Ironically, the rise comes despite a slower rate of inflation in May, easing slightly to 27.7 percent from 29.2 percent in April, according to the National Statistical Office, on account of declining food prices during the ongoing harvest season.
However, WFP data shows that during the review period, maize prices rose to K1 026 per kg, following a seasonal low of K976 per kg in May, marking a five percent increase month-on-month.
In June last year, the national average price was K794 per kg, meaning prices have increased by nearly 30 percent year-on-year.
Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito said most consumers are unemployed and do not have access to incomes, making most of the goods and services beyond their reach.
“Consumers must refrain from engaging in unnecessary purchases at a time when there is no hope that prices will go down,” he said.
As part of the food component, maize contributes about 53.7 percent of the consumer price index, an aggregate basket for goods and services for computing inflation, which means any movement in the price of maize has a direct bearing on consumers.
