Batswana's Spending Trends in 2025:

Table of Contents

• Top Spending Categories in Botswana (February 2025 …

  • 1. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (13.55% of total …

  • 2. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels …

  • 3. Transport (23.43%)

  • 4. Miscellaneous Goods & Services (9.01%)

  • 5. Restaurants & Hotels (3.66%)

• What This Means for You

  • For Young Professionals

  • For Entrepreneurs

  • For Students

• And Finally

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Understanding how inflation affects your daily expenses is crucial, whether you’re a young professional, entrepreneur, or student managing your budget. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for February 2025 sheds light on Botswana’s spending patterns, highlighting key areas where money is going and how inflation has shifted costs across different sectors.

Let’s dive into the numbers.

Top Spending Categories in Botswana (February 2025)

According to the National Consumer Price Group and Section Indices, these are the top spending categories and how much they contributed to the country’s 2.7% annual inflation rate.

1. Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (13.55% of total spending)

• The largest contributor to inflation, accounting for 0.8 percentage points of the total 2.7% inflation rate.

• Prices increased 0.8% in one month, from 149.8 in January to 151.0 in February.

• Specific food price hikes:

  • Fruits (+1.7%)

  • Bread & Cereals (+1.0%)

  • Meat (Fresh, Chilled & Frozen) (+0.7%)

  • Vegetables (+0.8%)

  • Coffee, Tea & Cocoa (+0.9%)

2. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (17.45%)

• Housing and utilities remain one of the biggest household expenses but showed minimal inflation impact (+0.2% monthly increase).

3. Transport (23.43%)

• The second-largest category of household expenses after food, but inflation in transport was more stable:

  • Overall transport prices increased slightly (+0.2%) in February.

  • Vehicle purchase costs rose (+0.7%), making buying a car more expensive.

  • Fuel & transport services remained unchanged.

4. Miscellaneous Goods & Services (9.01%)

• The third-largest contributor to inflation (+0.7%).

• Includes personal care items, insurance, and financial services.

5. Restaurants & Hotels (3.66%)

• Prices in this category increased by 0.4% in February, reflecting higher costs of dining and hotel stays.

What This Means for You

For Young Professionals

• Higher food and transport costs mean budgeting is key. If you drive, expect slightly higher vehicle costs, and if you rely on public transport, fares could rise soon.

• Rising housing costs could make renting more expensive in the coming months.

For Entrepreneurs

• Food-related businesses (e.g., catering, grocery delivery) can adjust pricing strategies to reflect higher costs of raw materials.

• Transport and logistics startups should be aware of rising vehicle costs when expanding fleets.

• Personal care businesses (barbershops, beauty salons) may need to adjust service prices due to higher miscellaneous goods costs.

For Students

• Higher food prices mean you may spend more on daily meals. Look for student discounts or bulk purchasing options.

• Public transport fares may rise soon, so budgeting for commuting expenses is important.

And Finally

Understanding where money is going and how inflation is shifting prices can help you make better financial decisions. Whether you’re planning your budget, pricing your business products, or exploring investment opportunities, keeping an eye on consumer spending trends will give you an edge.

Source: Statistics Botswana