Poverty line up 3.5% in June

Harare, (New Ziana) – An average Zimbabwean required at least $5 975 to meet basic cost of living needs in June, 2021, an increase of 3.5 percent from the previous month, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) said on Monday.

In May, the same individual required at least $5 771 for both food and other needs.

The rise in the poverty datum line is in line with a jump in monthly inflation, which was up by 1.4 percentage points to 3.9 percent in June compared to the previous month.

“The Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for Zimbabwe stood at $5,974.89 per person in June 2021,” Zimstat said.

“This means that an individual required that much to purchase both non-food and food items as at June 2021 in order not to be deemed poor.”

For food alone, Zimstat said an individual required $4 271.85 in June, up from $4 139.10 in May.

“The quantities of commodities consumed at base year in the minimum needs basket which is consistent with the preferences of the poor individuals and households in Zimbabwe are fixed,” Zimstat said.
New Ziana