Consumer inflation surges to a 13-year high
Annual consumer inflation jumped to 7,4% in June from 6,5% in May, mainly driven by rising transport and food prices. The June rate is the highest reading since May 2009 (8,0%) when the economy was facing the headwind of currency depreciation during the global financial crisis. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1,1% between read more »
Consumer inflation jumps to a 5-year high
Annual consumer price inflation quickened to 6,5% in May from 5,9% in April and March, breaking through the upper limit of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. This is the highest reading since January 2017 when the rate was 6,6%. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,7%. The read more »
Annual consumer inflation holds steady in April
The annual change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 5,9% in April, unchanged from 5,9% in March. The monthly rate decreased to 0,6% from 1,0%. This is the third time in five months that the annual rate was 5,9%, testing the 6% upper limit of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. read more »
Transport costs continue to drive inflation higher
Annual consumer price inflation quickened to 5,9% in March from 5,7% in February, placing it just below the upper limit (6%) of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. Transport, housing and utilities, and food and non-alcoholic beverages were the most significant contributors, with transport contributing 2,1 percentage points to the annual rate. read more »
Grain-based products record higher prices in February
Annual consumer inflation held steady at 5,7% in February, unchanged from 5,7% in January. Rising food and transport prices put upward pressure on the monthly rate, with the consumer price index (CPI) increasing by 0,6% between January and February. This CPI release is the second to be compiled using the recently updated weights and basket read more »
Consumer inflation softens as fuel prices ease
Headline inflation dipped to 5,7% in January from 5,9% in December, mainly the result of lower fuel prices. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0,2% between December and January, compared with a monthly rate of 0,6% in December. This CPI release is the first to be compiled using the recently updated weights and basket read more »
Gin is in and DVD players are ejected as Stats SA updates the inflation basket
Stats SA published changes to the consumer inflation basket, providing insight into how household spending habits have shifted since 2016. It is best practice for national statistical offices to update the basket at least every five years to ensure that it adequately reflects trends in household spending, technology and consumer tastes. The process involves removing read more »
Inflation continues to accelerate amid higher fuel and food prices
Headline consumer inflation ended 2021 at 5,9% in December, up from 5,5% in November. The monthly increase was 0,6%, slightly higher than the 0,5% rise recorded between October and November. Average consumer inflation for 2021 was 4,5%, higher than the averages recorded for 2020 (3,3%) and 2019 (4,1%). The factors driving the rise in the read more »
Consumer inflation the highest since March 2017
Annual consumer inflation accelerated to its highest reading in more than four-and-a-half years in November, driven mostly by rising transport costs. The annual change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 5,5%, up from 5,0% in October and September. This is the biggest annual increase since March 2017 when the rate was 6,1%. The monthly read more »
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 »