Cape Town — The latest data StatsSA showed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded an increase of 5.2% for April, the second consecutive month that inflation has slowed.
The 5.2% increase follows the 5.3% increase in March and 5.6% increase in February. The report showed that housing & utilities, miscellaneous goods & services, food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) and transport were the main contributors to the increases, StatsSA said.
Food and NAB increased by 4.7%, a decrease from the 5.1% increase in March. The only food and NAB to witness lower rates included fruit, vegetables and hot beverages. Vegetable prices increased by 7.4% (6% in March) fruit rose to 4.5% (3.3% in March) while hot beverages rose to 11.4% (11.2% in March).
Bread and cereal inflation slowed once again, decreasing for a 12th consecutive month, decreasing to 4.3% (5% in March). Bread flour, cake flour, ready-mix flour, white bread, pasta, rusks, savoury biscuits and maize meal are cheaper than a year ago.
The average price of white bread stands at R18.43, compared to R19,07 in April 2023. Meanwhile, rice, pizza, pies, instant noodles and biscuits recorded increases.
Annual consumer price #inflation slowed for a second consecutive month, easing to 5,2% in April from 5,3% in March and 5,6% in February.
Listen here for more: https://t.co/18ssTjTB42
#StatsSA #CPI pic.twitter.com/7LUgcXr1K4— Stats SA (@StatsSA) May 22, 2024
The annual rate for sugar, sweets & desserts cooled to 16,8% from 17,8% in March. Inflation for products such as white sugar, brown sugar, chocolates and jam remain elevated.
Eggs, along with most products in the dairy category, recorded decreases. Whiteners, condensed milk, Gouda cheese and fresh cream were the only exceptions. This pulled overall inflation for the category down to 8,7% from 10,1% in March.
The annual rate for restaurants & hotels rose to 7,5% in April from 5,7% in March. Hotel prices jumped by 1,5% between March and April, taking the annual rate for hotels to 10,4%.
Fuel prices increased by a monthly 1,9%, pushing the annual rate to 9,0%. Inland 95-octane petrol was R25,12 per litre in April 2024, up from R22,97 in April 2023.1
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
