![\"cpi20\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cpi20.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe monthly change in the index was 1,0% in March, up from 0,6% in February.<\/p>\n
This consumer price index (CPI) release is the third to be compiled using the recently updated weights and basket of goods and services.1<\/sup> The price indices have also been rebased so that December 2021 = 100.2<\/sup><\/p>\n Fuel prices and other transport costs continue to rise<\/strong><\/p>\n Fuel prices increased by 7,2% between February and March, with inland 95-octane petrol rising by R1,46 per litre to reach a record high of R21,60 per litre.3<\/sup> Fuel prices rose by an eye-watering 33,2% in the twelve months to March, with petrol prices climbing by 32,6% and diesel by 35,1%.<\/p>\n The transport index in March was also driven higher by increases in toll fees, air transport and bus fares.<\/p>\n Food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inflation moderates slightly<\/strong><\/p>\n Food and NAB inflation was softer in March. The monthly rate slowed from 0,9% in February to 0,6%, and the annual rate from 6,4% to 6,2%.<\/p>\n Bread and cereal prices increased at a monthly rate of 1,1% in March after recording a 2,4% jump in February. Other food categories in the CPI basket that registered price increases between February and March include meat; milk, eggs and cheese; fish; and sugar, sweets and desserts.<\/p>\n After rising for three months in a row, prices for oils and fats edged lower in March, dipping slightly by 0,1%. Despite a 0,7% decline in the price of sunflower oil, it is 27% more expensive than a year ago.<\/p>\n Fruit and vegetable prices also dipped lower. After increasing for five consecutive months, fruit prices dropped by 1,3% between February and March. Vegetable prices edged lower by 0,4%, with decreases recorded for lettuce, mushrooms, dried beans, tomatoes, onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n The March release of the CPI incorporates adjustments to excise duties and includes the latest data from rentals and education fees. A rise in excise duties came into effect, contributing to a 2,2% monthly jump in alcohol and tobacco prices. The most recent results of the quarterly rental survey recorded a rise of 0,6% in both actual and imputed rentals compared with the previous quarter.<\/p>\n Stats SA surveys educational institutions and cr\u00e8ches once a year in March. After dropping to a 30-year low of 4,1% in 20214<\/sup>, annual education inflation edged higher to 4,4% in 2022. Primary and secondary school fees increased by 4,5% and tertiary fees rose by 4,2%.<\/p>\n For more information, download the March 2022 CPI statistical release here.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1 <\/sup>For more information on the recent reweighting and rebasing exercise, see the information note here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2 <\/sup>See Figure 1 and Table B1 in the March 2022 CPI statistical release for the headline index.<\/p>\n 3 <\/sup>Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Comparing prices for petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin (IP) (click here<\/a>).<\/p>\n 4 <\/sup>Stats SA, Education inflation the lowest in 30 years<\/em> (read here<\/a>).<\/p>\n Similar articles are available on the Stats SA website and can be accessed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For a monthly overview of economic indicators and infographics, catch the latest edition of the Stats Biz newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Annual consumer price inflation quickened to 5,9% in March from 5,7% in February, placing it just below the upper limit (6%) of the South African Reserve Bank\u2019s monetary policy target range. Transport, housing and utilities, and food and non-alcoholic beverages were the most significant contributors, with transport contributing 2,1 percentage points to the annual rate. read more »<\/a><\/p>\n