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Mail & Guardian
consumer price indexlatest news & developments
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.
BASKET

Consumer inflation ticks up for third straight month as Stats SA adjusts basket

The South African Reserve Bank has warned of an upside risk to the inflation outlook

  • MG Reporter
1 min read
On a month-on-month basis
ANNUAL INFLATION

Inflation cools to 3.8% in September

This is the lowest reading for inflation in South Africa since April 2021

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago announced on Thursday that the monetary policy committee had increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7%, effective from 29 May.
BUSINESS

Reserve Bank cuts repo rate to 8%

This comes as inflation eased to 4.4% in August, below the midpoint of the Reserve Bank’s 3-6% target band

  • Aarti Bhana
4 min read
Small food businesses and inflation
BUSINESS

Inflation edges up in February, driven by food and transport, among other costs

The consumer price index rose 5.6% year-on-year in February and was at 1.0% month-on-month

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Consumers are angry that the government is treating them like a cash cow instead of fighting corruption and improving its fiscal discipline. File photo by Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images
BUSINESS

SA consumers struggle as food prices soar

World food and fuel costs have dropped but grocery prices at local supermarkets remain unaffordably high

  • Lyse Comins
6 min read
Photo: Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images
BEVERAGES

SA inflation falls to lowest level in two years

The inflation rate eased to 4.7%, the lowest since August 2021

  • Anathi Madubela
2 min read
Consumer inflation is expected to remain close to the central bank’s 6% ceiling, amid war-induced oil price rally (Dean Hutton/ Bloomberg/ Getty Images)
ANNABEL BISHOP

Reserve Bank set to hike interest rates

Consumer inflation is expected to remain close to the central bank’s 6% ceiling, amid war-induced oil price rally

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
Annual consumer inflation was unchanged at 3.2% in February at 3.2%, with increases registered in housing and utilities, food and alcoholic beverages and restaurants and accommodation offset by decreases in the services sector, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday. (Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH

Inflation accelerates to highest rate since 2017

Elevated inflation has become a stubborn feature of the global economy’s recovery from the Covid-19 slump and central banks have been forced to react

  • Sarah Smit
2 min read
Economists widely expect the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee to once again hold the interest rate at 8.25% when it concludes its meeting on Thursday.
ALEXANDER FORBES

‘A cruel slap’: Reserve Bank weighs inflation risks as the economy struggles

Critics have said the repo rate hike will jeopardise already sluggish economic growth, but others say the gradual increase will have little effect

  • Sarah Smit
9 min read
South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images
BANK OF ENGLAND

Reserve Bank green-lights interest rate lift-off

The decision to hike the repo rate by 25 basis points comes in the wake of red-hot inflation in advanced economies and fears policymakers will start to dial back on accommodative…

  • Sarah Smit
5 min read
The Reserve Bank has maintained the repo — at which it lends to commercial banks — steady at 8.25% for five consecutive meetings, since hiking it by 50 basis points in May 2023.
ANNABEL BISHOP

South African inflation unchanged as some economists expect repo rate lift-off

Global inflation has surprised on the upside, which may factor into whether the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee decides to raise the interest rate on Thursday

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Economists widely expect the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee to once again hold the interest rate at 8.25% when it concludes its meeting on Thursday.
ZUMAUNREST

Despite inflation risks, the monetary policy committee keeps rates on hold

Inflation rose well beyond the Reserve Bank’s midpoint target in August

  • Sarah Smit
3 min read
The US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee has broken its 14-month policy pause with a significant 50 basis point cut to the federal funds rate. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
ANNABEL BISHOP

If the inflation-driving supply strain in the US lasts, it could put South Africa in a chokehold

In South Africa, a strong trade surplus, buoyed by robust commodity prices, will cushion our economy against pressure arising from US policy

  • Sarah Smit
7 min read
On a month-on-month basis, November inflation increased by 0.2%. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CONSUMER INFLATION

November inflation ticks slightly higher to 5.2%

In November inflation for goods increased by 5.3% year-on-year, from 5.1% in October, according to Stats SA

  • Lameez Omarjee
1 min read
Moody’s was the only major ratings agency not to downgrade South Africa’s sovereign debt to junk status in 2017. (Shuttershock)
AGENCY

Rand firm as Moody’s delays ratings move

Last week, the rand rebounded sharply following lower-than-expected CPI figures from the US as well as a decline in US stocks

  • Agency
2 min read
South Africa has many macro-assets attractive to investors, such as a vibrant democracy, a relatively diversi?ed economy, abundant natural resources and a transparent legal system.
AGENCY

Higher fuel prices help push June Consumer Price Index to 4.6%

Fuel prices have been steadily increasing since April due to a combination of higher global oil prices, higher fuel taxes and a weakening rand

  • Agency
1 min read
Close to majority of unions sign public sector wage deal
AYANDA DLODLO

PSA not budging as government, unions agree to above-inflation wage hikes

The PSA which represents 238 000 members is sticking to its demand for 10% raises across the board and balloted its members this week towards a strike

  • Tehillah Nieselow
3 min read
The crux of the issue, says senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand Lumkile Mondi, is how to hold the government accountable.
AYANDA DLODLO

Unions edgy after wage talks delay

Public sector unions fear that the new minister won’t keep old promises

  • Govan Whittles
5 min read
Street hawkers sell their wares to passing pedestrians on a road near the headquarters of the South African Reserve Bank in Pretoria.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Relief for consumers as CPI hits two-year low

The SARB has managed to keep within its mandate to keep inflation at low levels.

  • Thulebona Mhlanga
2 min read
South Africa’s international live animal trade has come under fire for brutal transport conditions.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Little to beef about as prices drop

Stats show that the prices of some goods have declined since January — meat is down and, for the sweet tooth, so is custard.

  • Athandiwe Saba
3 min read