Poverty Datum Line Rises To $1 617

Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) says the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) for an average family of five has increased to $1 617 for July showing an increase of 80 per cent from April.

The rise has been attributed to the ever-increasing prices of basic commodities such as mealie-meal, rice, cooking oil, flour, sugar and meat.

Some retailers have been accused of pegging prices of goods priced in the Zimbabwe dollar to the prevailing interbank market which changes daily with the local currency shedding value.