Poverty datum line rises to $1 600 – ZimStat

Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s poverty datum line (PDL) for an average family of five jumped 15.18 percent in June to ZWL$1 617 in July this year, as the cost of living continues rise on the back of unrestrained price increases.

Latest data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) shows that an individual required at least $323.50 per month to access minimum provisions.

“The Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for an average of five persons stood at $1,617.48 in July 2019,” ZimStat said.

“This represents an increase of 15.18 percent when compared to the June 2019 figure of $1 404.26.”

According to ZimStat, the TCPL is a combination of food and non-food items that an average family required for it not to be deemed poor.

In terms of food alone, ZimStat said an individual required at least $127.93 per month, up from $112.07 the previous month.

Prices of goods and services have further gone up in the past two months as the local currency continued to devalue against the United States dollar.

This means the PDL most likely also went up as of the month of September although official figures are still to be released.
New Ziana