![Love it or hate it – the rand turns 60](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CPI-data-story-64x64.jpg)
Love it or hate it – the rand turns 60
While many couples will be celebrating Valentine’s Day this Sunday, 14 February, historians may have a different take on the day. 14 February 2021 is the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the rand as South Africa’s currency. Following the adoption of recommendations of the Decimal Coinage Commission in 1958, the British-styled pounds, shillings and read more »
![Inflation for 2020 was the lowest in 16 years and the second lowest in 51 years](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cpi1-64x64.jpg)
Inflation for 2020 was the lowest in 16 years and the second lowest in 51 years
The December 2020 Consumer Price Index (CPI) release concludes the data points for the entire calendar year. The average annual inflation rate for 2020 was 3,3%. This is the lowest annual average rate since 2004 (1,4%) and the second lowest since 1969 (3,0%). One of the reasons for low inflation in 2004, according to the read more »
![What does government spend money on?](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/gov1-64x64.jpg)
What does government spend money on?
A recent release from Stats SA provides a breakdown of financial data from all 708 institutions in government. This article provides an overview of what government spent money on in 2018/19, with focus on the public service wage bill. South African general government spent R1,79Â trillion in 2018/19, according to the latest Financial statistics of consolidated read more »
![Inflation falls to a three-month low](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cpi1-64x64.jpg)
Inflation falls to a three-month low
South Africa’s annual inflation rate was 3,0% in September, lower than the rates recorded in July (3,2%) and August (3,1%). The change in the consumer price index between August 2020 and September 2020 was 0,2%, identical to the reading in the previous month. The alcoholic beverages and tobacco division was the main reason for the read more »
![Baking bad during lockdown](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bake2-64x64.jpg)
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 »
![Inflation rate edges up in June](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cpi1-64x64.jpg)
Inflation rate edges up in June
Annual CPI inflation was 2,2% in June, slightly up from 2,1% in May. The monthly increase was 0,5% – a reversal of the -0,6% recorded between April and May. The dominance of fuel price changes recorded in the previous few months continued in June. Fuel prices increased by 7,5% from May to June, with petrol read more »
![CPI inflation slows to 2,1% in May](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/pic1-64x64.jpg)
CPI inflation slows to 2,1% in May
Annual consumer price inflation fell to its lowest reading since September 2004, dragged lower mainly by falling fuel prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the prices of a range of consumer goods and services, increased by 2,1% in May 2020 compared with May 2019. The reading for September 2004, 15 years and eight read more »
![Inflation the lowest in almost 15 years](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cpi1-64x64.jpg)
Inflation the lowest in almost 15 years
Annual CPI inflation for April reflects the impact of the first month of the COVID-19 lockdown. The rate dropped to 3,0% in April from 4,1% in March, the lowest reading since June 2005 when the rate was 2,8%. Consumer inflation is now at the bottom of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) target range of read more »
![Changes to the calculation and publication date of the April CPI](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cpi_changes-64x64.jpg)
Changes to the calculation and publication date of the April CPI
The COVID-19 pandemic and the drastic actions taken to prevent its spread have fundamentally impacted the South African economy and Stats SA’s ability to measure it. Government imposed a restrictive five-week lockdown from 27 March to 30 April. Data collection for the March 2020 consumer price index had been completed before the lockdown and it read more »
![COVID-19: Weekly deflation of essential products continues](https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Slider_covid19_cpi-64x64.jpg)
COVID-19: Weekly deflation of essential products continues
The prices of essential products decreased by 0,1% between the weeks ending 16 and 23 April after decreasing by 0,2% the previous week. The essential products consumer price index (EP–CPI) has increased by 0,2% since weekly data was first collected at the beginning of the lockdown in the week ending 2 April. This article covers read more »