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 »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) launched the Living Conditions Survey (LCS) 2014/15 in Pretoria today. The LCS is a periodic survey which is conducted every 5 years. The survey aims to identify and profile poverty in South Africa, and gives policy-makers information on who is poor, where the poor are located and what it is   read more »

It has only been five months into 2014, yet a lot has already happened. Just recently, on 7 May 2014, many South Africans went out in their numbers to vote in the fifth general election since the dawn of democracy. The African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer missions congratulated South Africa   read more »

The Consumer Price Index is South Africa’s measure of consumer inflation. In 2006 we began a process of reviewing and improving the way we collect CPI data and compile the index. This page is designed to provide CPI users with more detailed information on CPI methodology, and on changes that are taking place to improve   read more »

The CPI inflation rate fell for the second consecutive month in October to 5,5% from 6% in September. The drop is mainly because of lower monthly price increases, especially when compared to the same period in 2012. The monthly increase was 0,2% compared to 0,6% in October last year. The drop in the petrol price   read more »

Over the past 12 months, the petrol price has increased by R2,49. This translates to an extra R124,50 to fill a 50 litre tank. The annual inflation rate for petrol is 23%, the highest since December 2011, when it was 26,3%. This is just one of the factors which led to the annual CPI inflation   read more »

The annual inflation rate jumped to 6,3% in July from the 5,5% recorded in June. This is the first time since April 2012 that the CPI has strayed outside of the inflation target band. The increase in the annual rate was almost totally due to the 84c/l increase in the petrol price which resulted in   read more »

Statistics South Africa conducts an Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) every 5 years. The IES seeks to establish what South Africans spend their money on, so that the basket of goods which makes up the Consumer Price Index (CPI), used to calculate the inflation rate, can be updated. The last IES was conducted between September   read more »