“…Furthermore, food inflation in South Africa has been more persistent than the inflation of other commodities, thus considered as an important source of underlying inflationary pressures in the economy (Rangasamy, 2010). Considering that several studies have established a significant correlation between inflation and automobile sales (Apec, 2012;Chifurira, Mudhombo, Chikobvu, & Dubihlela, 2014;McGowan, 1984;Muhammad, Hussin, Razak, Rambeli & Tha, 2013;Muhammad, Hussin & Razak, 2012;Zide, 2012), it is therefore important to seek to establish the possible existing link between food inflation and vehicle purchases in South Africa. Although several other studies also identified food to be one of the factors that influence purchase decisions (Cheng, Sims & Teegen, 1997;Makatouni, 2002;Munchanda, Ansari & Gupta, 1999;Pieterse, 2009;Rimal, Moon & Balasubramanian, 2005), there appears to be an absence of research that directly links food inflation to passenger vehicle purchases.…”