Category Archives: Inflation

PPI further down in September

Subdued monthly Producer price index (PPI) in September led the annual PPI for final manufactured goods (headline PPI) to drop to 6,9% from 7,2% in August. Food products, beverages and tobacco products remain the main contributors to the annual PPI. Monthly PPI for agriculture increased with 3,2% in September due to higher prices of live   read more »


Inflation for September down to 5,9%

Inflation for September down to 5,9%

The annual inflation rate dropped to 5,9% in September from 6,4% in August. This is the first month since February that it is below the ceiling of the Reserve Bank’s target. The 0,5% drop in the rate was largely because of a 67c/l drop in the petrol price. This is equivalent to a decrease of   read more »


Meat prices beefing up the cost of Braai Day

Meat prices beefing up the cost of Braai Day

Patrick Kelly – Executive manager for Price statistics, Statistics South Africa, explores the true cost of ‘Braai Day’. South Africans love meat. This is obvious from our cultural affinity for a braai or ShisaNyama. Many celebrated ‘Braai Day’ on this week’s Heritage Day holiday. This importance is also evident from the prominence of meat products   read more »


Inflation for August slightly up to 6,4%

Inflation for August slightly up to 6,4%

Consumer inflation (headline CPI) edged up slightly to 6,4% in August compared with July’s reading of 6,3%. The increase was mainly a result of upward pressure from food and motor vehicle prices.  Annual food and beverage inflation, which registered 8,8% in June and July, climbed to 9,4% in August.  Food inflation has been increasing since   read more »


Inflation for July slowed to 6,3%

Inflation for July slowed to 6,3%

The annual inflation rate slowed to 6,3% in July from the 6,6% registered in the preceding two months. Most municipalities introduce new tariffs in July each year resulting in housing and utilities contributing 0,5 of the 0,8% monthly increase in the CPI. Electricity tariffs increased 7,0%, slightly lower than the maximum 7,4% stipulated by NERSA, the   read more »


Inflation for June unchanged

Inflation for June unchanged

Annual consumer inflation for June was steady at 6,6%, with a monthly increase of 0,3%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices increased by a modest 0,1% between May and June resulting in an unchanged 8,8% annual rate.  Specific food items which continue to exert upward pressure on inflation are white bread (monthly increase of 1,9%) and full cream   read more »


Highest inflation in almost five years

Highest inflation in almost five years

Inflation hits 6,6% in May 2014, the highest rate in almost five years (6,8% in July 2009).  The monthly increase is a modest 0,2%. The big jump in the annual rate is mainly as a result of a drop of 0,3% in the index in May 2013. This drop was mainly a result of a 73c/l   read more »


Inflation at 6,1%, outside the SARB inflation target range

Inflation at 6,1%, outside the SARB inflation target range

The headline inflation rate continues to increase, printing at 6,1% in April with a 0,5% monthly increase. The big driver of the monthly increase is food and non-alcoholic beverages prices which registered a monthly increase of 1,3%. Within food, meat (2,0% month-on-month), and particularly beef (4,2% m/m) prices have accelerated. Maize, which is another heavily   read more »


Inflation at 6%, hitting the ceiling of the SARB inflation target range

Inflation at 6%, hitting the ceiling of the SARB inflation target range

Hitting the ceiling of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) inflation target range, the CPI comes in at 6% this month, with a 1,3% monthly increase. The monthly increase is the largest since June 2008 (1,4%). The monthly increase has been steadily increasing since a low of 0,1% in November 2013. Food and non-alcoholic beverages   read more »


Inflation just under the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) target ceiling

Inflation just under the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) target ceiling

Consumer inflation edged up to 5,9% in February, just under the SARB target ceiling of 6%, from the 5,8% recorded in January. The monthly increase was 1,1%. There were three main groups contributing to the upward pressure this month – food, petrol and health insurance. Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation increased to 5,4%, from 3,5%    read more »