South Africa Inflation Rate1968-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

The annual inflation rate in South Africa fell to 3% in April of 2020 from 4.1% in March and slightly below market expectations of 3.1%, thus remaining comfortably within the Reserve Bank's target band of 3-6%. It was the lowest rate since June of 2005, amid a decrease in transport prices (-3.5% vs 3.4% in March), namely fuels (-12.8% vs 5.5%), prompted by the Covid-19 crisis. Also, there was a slowdown in costs of housing & utilities (4.6% vs 4.8%); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (2.3% vs 3.7%); clothing & footwear (1.4% vs 2.3%); recreation & culture (0.4% vs 0.9%) and restaurants & hotels (1% vs 1.4%). Meantime, inflation remained steady for miscellaneous goods services (at 6.4%) and education (at 6.4%), but it quickened for food & non-alcoholic beverages (4.6% vs 4.4%) and health (4.8% vs 4.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices went down 0.5%, after rising 0.3% in March, and compared with market consensus of a 0.4% drop.

The annual inflation rate in South Africa fell to 4.1 percent in March of 2020 from 4.6 percent in February and below market expectations of 4.3 percent. It was the lowest inflation rate since last December, as prices slowed mostly for transport (3.4 percent vs 6.2 percent in February), namely fuels (5.5 percent vs 12.7 percent), on the back of falling oil prices amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, inflation edged higher food & non-alcoholic beverages (4.4 percent vs 4.2 percent); housing & utilities (4.8 percent vs 4.7 percent) and miscellaneous goods & services (6.4 percent vs 6.3 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.3 percent, easing from a 1 percent rise in the prior month and compared with market consensus of a 0.5 percent increase.

The annual inflation rate in South Africa increased to 4.6 percent in February 2020 from 4.5 percent in January and above market expectations of 4.5 percent. It was the highest inflation rate since November 2018, as cost of food & non-alcoholic beverages rose the most in over 2 years (4.2 percent vs 3.7 percent in January), of which fruit (6.6 percent) and fish (6.3 percent). Also, prices advanced further for miscellaneous goods & services (6.3 percent vs 5.7 percent); clothing & footwear (2.3 percent vs 2.2 percent) and health (5.5 percent vs 5 percent). Meantime, inflation was steady for housing & utilities (at 4.7 percent). In contrast, cost slowed for transport (6.2 percent vs 6.4 percent); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (4.9 percent vs 5.2 percent); household contents & services (2.4 percent vs 2.7 percent) and restaurants & hotels (1.8 percent vs 2.4 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 1 percent, the most since February 2017, after rising 0.3 percent in January.

The annual inflation rate in South Africa rose to 4.5 percent in January 2020 from 4 percent in the previous month and above market expectations of 4.4 percent. It was the highest inflation rate since June last year, as prices shot up for transport (6.4 percent vs 3.3 percent in December), led by fuels (13.7 percent vs 2.4 percent) such as gasoline (15 percent); housing & utilities (4.7 percent vs 4.6 percent); miscellaneous goods & services (5.7 percent vs 5.4 percent); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (5.2 percent vs 5 percent); and health (5 percent vs 4.8 percent). Meanwhile, cost eased for food & non-alcoholic beverages (3.7 percent vs 3.9 percent); recreation & culture (0.8 percent vs 1.2 percent); household contents and services (2.7 percent vs 2.8 percent); and restaurants & hotels (2.4 percent vs 2.9 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices advanced 0.3 percent, the same pace as in December.