A deep dive into the price of fuel
Note: The original version of this article, published on 1 December 2021, was based on fuel price adjustments announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on 29 November. On 1 December, the DMRE made changes to these adjustments. This article was revised on 2 December 2021 to reflect these changes. Fuel prices read more »
Consumer inflation quickens for a second month
Annual consumer price inflation edged slightly higher to 5,0% in September from 4,9% in August and 4,6% in July. This represents the fifth consecutive month with annual inflation above the 4,5% midpoint of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,2%. Transport, food read more »
Consumer inflation quickens to a 30-month high
Annual headline inflation climbed above the 4,5% midpoint of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range, accelerating to 5,2% in May from 4,4% in April. This is the highest reading since November 2018 when the rate was also 5,2%. The 5,2% annual change in May comes off a low base recorded in May read more »
Consumer price inflation hits a 14-month high
Annual headline inflation jumped to 4,4% in April from 3,2% in March, mainly driven by rising transport and food prices. This is the highest reading since before the lockdown, which was 4,6% in February 2020. Over the last 14 months, consumer price inflation was relatively subdued throughout the lockdown. The lockdown began on 27 March read more »
Education inflation the lowest in 30 years
Education inflation recorded its lowest annual rate in three decades, according to data from Stats SA’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) release. Stats SA surveys educational institutions and crèches once a year in March. Education fees increased by 4,1% in 2021. Last year’s rise was 6,4%. Historical data shows that this is the lowest increase read more »
Annual consumer inflation slows to an eight-month low
Headline inflation slowed to 2,9% in February from 3,2% in January, the lowest reading since June last year when the rate was 2,2%. This is the third time in the past 12 months that the annual rate has slipped below the bottom end of the South African Reserve Bank’s inflation target range. Inflation was below read more »
Inflation remains low in January
The annual rate of consumer inflation was 3,2% in January, slightly up from December’s reading of 3,1%. The monthly increase in the consumer price index was 0,3%, following 0,2% between November and December. The monthly changes in the CPI have remained within a range of 0% to 0,3% since August 2020. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, read more »
Consumer inflation dips slightly lower to 3,2%
Annual consumer inflation retreated slightly in November, to 3,2% from 3,3% in October. There was no monthly change in the index. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices continued to climb, recording an aggregate annual increase of 5,8%, up from 5,4% in October. Food inflation contributed 1,0 percentage point to November’s headline rate of 3,2%. There were read more »
Inflation edges up as food and drink prices bite
Annual consumer inflation hit a seven-month high in October, driven largely by rising prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Headline inflation was 3,3%, the biggest annual rise since March when the rate was 4,1%. The monthly increase in October was 0,3%, edging up from 0,2% recorded in both September and August. Food and drink inflation read more »
Baking bad during lockdown
You’ve waited too long. Your friends have tried it, you’ve seen the videos, you’re feeling the FOMO. You roll up your sleeves – it is time to bake your own lockdown bread. The kitchen is ready. The ingredients are all set out. Two cups of boiling water – check! Instant yeast, brown sugar, salt, flour read more »