2011 - a gruelling year for consumers

In a year in which civil servants and most private sector employees went without inflation-linked wage reviews, the price of goods and services rose steadily through the period.

Most dismaying for many consumers was the fact that price increases were highest in food, fuel and other basic needs such as electricity, constricting personal incomes and eroding any form of savings made by households.During the year, petrol, diesel and paraffin prices were increased five times, the last being by an average 47 thebe in November. Besides the numerous adverse consequences of these increases, the raft of public transport fare increases in August hurt a wide demographic of consumers.