The education component in the CPI is updated once a year in March. Tuition fees increased by 5,4% in 2026, higher than the 4,5% rise recorded in 2025. Private secondary schools recorded the sharpest rise, climbing by 7,5%. Explore education inflation, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. DownloadStatsBiz – April   read more »

Stats SA’s publication schedule was quieter in April, with 20 statistical releases published in the month. The latest economic figures cover the month of February. On the upside Most indicators were positive year-on-year. Mining; construction (buildings completed as reported by large municipalities); retail trade sales; motor trade sales; tourist accommodation; restaurants, catering & fast-food; and   read more »

The cost of living rose by 3,1% in the 12 months to March, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI). This is slightly up from 3,0% recorded in February. Prices increased on average by 0,6% in March 2026 compared with February 2026. Six of the 13 categories in the CPI basket recorded higher annual rates, including restaurants   read more »

South Africa will mark 32 years of freedom on 27 April this year, commemorating the first democratic elections held on the same day and month in 1994. For the first time, millions of South Africans of all races were able to vote, marking the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new political era   read more »

South Africa’s tourism sector had a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummeting visitor numbers led to a decline in economic activity and job losses across the industry. Recovery has been slow, but recent data show a positive trend. Employment, economic activity and domestic tourism expenditure have all rebounded, according to the latest Tourism Satellite   read more »

South Africa’s international tourism sector recorded a strong recovery in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time since global travel disruptions. According to the Tourism report (2025) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the country welcomed 10,5 million tourists in 2025, representing a 17,7% increase from the 8,9 million tourists recorded in 2024.   read more »

For millions of households, navigating medical costs is a delicate balancing act—one that reveals who can access quality care, who must sacrifice to afford it, and who is left to depend entirely on public services. While private medical cover remains out of reach for most, households still dig into their pockets to pay for essentials   read more »

South Africa is experiencing a profound shift in its marital landscape, with the latest data revealing not only a rise in divorce rates but also a steady decline in the number of marriages being registered. The new data shows a notable uptick in divorces and a clear trend: women are increasingly the ones initiating the   read more »

According to Statistics South Africa’s Volunteer Activities Survey, 2024, an estimated 3,1 million South Africans aged 15 and older participated in volunteer work in 2024—up from 2,7 million in 2018 and 2,2 million in 2014, representing a volunteer rate of 6,9% of the adult population. Volunteer work refers to any unpaid, non‑compulsory activity that individuals   read more »

Headline consumer inflation cooled to 3,0% in February from 3,5% in January. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,4%. To understand why inflation decreased this month, it is useful to compare the monthly change in February this year (0,4%) with February 2025 (0,9%). February’s monthly print was lower than average, and this   read more »