Annual consumer inflation rose to 3,6% in October from 3,4% in September. This is the highest inflation print since September 2024 when the rate was 3,8%. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0,1% month-on-month in October 2025. The transport; recreation, sport & culture; and alcoholic beverages & tobacco categories recorded hotter annual rates. Inflation cooled for   read more »

Annual consumer inflation rose slightly to 3,4% in September from 3,3% in August. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,2%. Annual inflation accelerated across several product categories, most notably transport and restaurants & accommodation. In contrast, food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB); alcoholic beverages & tobacco; and furnishings, household equipment & routine   read more »

Annual consumer price inflation pulled back in August, easing to 3,3% from 3,5% in July. Softer food and fuel inflation took some of the heat off the headline rate. The monthly change was also lower. The consumer price index (CPI) decreased by 0,1% between July and August, with four of thirteen categories in the inflation   read more »

Headline consumer inflation increased to 3,5% in July from 3,0% in June. This is the highest rate since September 2024, when it was 3,8%. Prices increased on average by 0,9% between June and July. Household food budgets under pressure Annual inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) continued to rise, accelerating to 5,7% from 5,1% in   read more »

South Africa’s commercial agricultural industry is notable for its wide variety of crops, horticultural products and livestock. A recent release breaks it all down, providing data on the industry’s most popular products. The Agricultural industry, 2023 statistical report summarises data from thousands of farms across the country, revealing interesting nuggets of information. Maize and sugarcane   read more »

After holding steady at 2,8% in April and May, consumer inflation edged higher to 3,0% in June. The month-on-month change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,3%. Food inflation accelerates further The annual rate for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) reached a 15-month high of 5,1% in June. Meat – particularly beef – continues   read more »

Amanzimtoti Main Beach was reopened last week following the end of 2025’s sardine run.1 The annual mass migration of fish, which occurs between May and July, is a boon for local fishing communities along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The sardine run highlights South Africa’s rich marine resources, which contribute to a vibrant fishing industry. A recent   read more »

Note: Figure 1 in the original version of this article (published on 27 March 2025) was incomplete, listing nine municipalities in the chart instead of ten. The article was revised on 08 April 2025 with a corrected Figure 1. Bucket toilets remain the thorn in the flesh of several municipalities. Despite an overall decline in the use of municipal bucket toilets   read more »

Market share can be dominated by (and concentrated in) a few firms or shared more broadly across the economy. Concentration ratios and data on small, medium and large enterprises provide insight into the structure of our industries. Concentration ratios for selected markets The concentration ratio indicates the degree to which market share is distributed across   read more »

In 2024, South Africa marks 30 years of democracy—a milestone that coincides with the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994. This dual commemoration underscores the transformative power of inclusive data to shape equitable futures, the theme of this year’s World Population Day which was   read more »