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The cost of living for an average urban household decreased by 8.36 percent between February and March 2025, the latest Cost of Living Analysis by the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) shows.
The report indicates that the cost of basic needs, excluding transport expenses, fell from K841, 645 in February to K800,833 in March.
When transport costs are included, the total decreased from K905,645 to K864,833, representing an overall reduction of 12.78 percent.
“Food prices decreased by an average of 7.10 percent from K649, 529 in February to K603,403 in March. The price of maize has gone down from an average of K95,000 per 50kg bag in February to K60,000 per 50kg bag in March. This is attributed to the increased supply of maize,” the report reads.
However, the report shows non-food items increased by an average of 9.67 percent from K192,116 in February to K197,430 in March.
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In an interview, economist Marvin Banda expressed scepticism over the figures, arguing that they fail to capture the full reality faced by Malawians.
He emphasised that regional disparities are not adequately captured, noting that food prices are skewed with the Southern Region reporting the highest prices while housing prices are highest in the Central Region yet these variations were not captured.
Another economist, Velli Nyirongo, outlined potential solutions to ease the cost-of-living burden.
He recommended strengthening social protection programmes, particularly targeted subsidies for low-income households and expanding cash transfer initiatives and school feeding programmes to provide relief to vulnerable groups.
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“To ease the cost of living in Malawi and reduce the burden on the general population, the government and stakeholders should prioritise stabilising food prices,” Nyirongo said.
In a recent interview, Consumers Association of Malawi Executive Director John Kapito said the economy was undergoing serious challenges which continue to push the cost of living.
He highlighted the need to accept that many Malawians had been affected negatively and that poverty among Malawians is now unmanageable.
