AVI Ltd posted half-year earnings growth of 0.6% on Monday as the South African food producer and fashion retailer lifted prices to put a lid on rising input costs, but said consumer demand was constrained by a high cost of living.

The maker of Five Roses tea and Bakers biscuits said headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six-months ended Dec. 31 inched up to 318.9 cents. HEPS is the main profit measure in South Africa. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Christopher Cushing)