Attachments
▪ The sorghum's national average retail price stood at SDG 436.6 per 1 kg, marking a 1.5% decrease from the previous month and a 25% increase from Q1-2023, before the onset of conflict.
▪ Wheat flour's national average retail price was SDG 1,146 per 1 kg, reflecting a 4.82% decrease from the previous month and a 55% surge from Q-2023, pre-conflict.
▪ The national average retail price of goats reached SDG 36,197 per head, indicating a 0.43% decline from the previous month and a 37% upswing from Q1-2023, before the onset of conflict.
▪ Groundnut's national average price was SDG 26,925 per kantar, indicating a 1.0% decrease from the previous month and a 62% surge from Q1-2023, pre-conflict.
▪ The local food basket's average cost was SDG 665.25 per 1 LFB, reflecting a 0.50% increase from the previous month and a 51% rise from Q1-2023, before the conflict.
▪ In October, the average foreign exchange rate experienced a significant devaluation of 14.3%, dropping to approximately 960 SDG/1US$, as opposed to the September 2023 rate of 800 SDG/1US$.
Food Security Outlook
Sorghum, goat, and groundnut prices experienced a slight decrease compared to September 2023, while the cost of the WFP local food basket saw a modest increase. The exchange rate exhibited a rapid increase for the third consecutive month. Casual-labour daily wages at the national average sharply increased in October compared to September. The foreign exchange rate underwent another devaluation in September, trading at around 960 SDG/1US$, compared to the September 2023 average of 800 SDG/1US$. Meanwhile, commercial banks' average rate rose to around 740 SDG/1US$, attributed to heightened demand for foreign currency from travellers and traders importing inputs and goods.
Inflation rates have not been reported since February 2023, but given the steep rise in prices for goods and services, it is anticipated to remain above 300 per cent by the year's end. The cost of the WFP local food basket (LFB) rose to SDG 665.25 in October, compared to SDG 661.9 in September. This represents a 17.1 per cent increase compared to the same month the previous year (SDG 568.0). The average daily wage for casual labour saw a significant 15.0 per cent increase from September 2023 and is now 69 per cent higher compared to the same month in the previous year.
The ongoing situation is anticipated to lead to a critical shortage in food supply and essential commodities.
Coupled with a below-average crop supply this season, the escalating prices of goods and services pose a significant risk of food insecurity for millions of Sudanese people.