![\"cpi1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cpi1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 1,0% in March, the most significant monthly rise since July 2022 when it was 1,5%. Food & non-alcoholic beverages and transport were the main drivers behind the annual and monthly increases.<\/p>\n
Food inflation continues its upward trend<\/strong><\/p>\n Inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages continued to accelerate, with prices increasing by 14,0% in the 12 months to March. This represents the largest annual increase since the 14,7% rise in March 2009 (14 years ago).<\/p>\n In March, milk, eggs & cheese; sugar, sweets & desserts; fruit and vegetables; and the product category \u2018other food products\u2019 experienced upward inflationary pressure. The milk, eggs & cheese product group witnessed its annual rate reaching 13,6% from the recent low of 3,7% in April 2022. The reading in March is the highest annual increase since February 2009\u2019s print of 13,9%.<\/p>\n Bread & cereals, meat, oils & fats, and fish bucked the trend, recording slower growth. The annual increase for bread & cereals was 20,3% in March, down from 20,5% in February. Meat inflation edged lower to 10,6% from 11,4% in February. Prices of oils & fats decreased for a seventh successive month, dragging the annual rate to 16,0% from 16,7%.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Transport inflation down on lower fuel prices<\/strong><\/p>\n The transport index rose by 8,9% in the 12 months to March, down from the 9,9% annual rate recorded in February. The downward shift was led by eight consecutive months of slowing fuel inflation, which reached 8,1% in March from 10,9% in February. This is much lower than the 56,2% peak in July 2022.<\/p>\n However, fuel prices rose by 4,5% between February and March. This was mainly due to the price of inland 95-octane petrol rising by R1,27 per litre.1<\/sup><\/p>\n The latest data on education fees<\/strong><\/p>\n Education fees are surveyed once a year in March. Overall, fees increased by 5,7% in 2023, higher than the 4,4% rise recorded in 2022. Fee increases were recorded for primary and pre-primary schools (up 6,3%), secondary schools (up 5,8%) and tertiary institutions (up 5,3%).<\/p>\n Other education-related products and services that recorded price increases include cr\u00e8ches (up 4,6%), university boarding fees (up 6,7%), textbooks (up 11,3%) and school bags (up 10,6%). The 11,3% rise in textbooks is the largest annual increase since October 2009 (12,0%).<\/p>\n Other notable price changes in March<\/strong><\/p>\n New excise taxes for alcohol and tobacco products came into effect in March, contributing to a monthly increase of 2,2%. However, the annual rate dropped slightly to 6,2% from 6,3% in February.<\/p>\n Data for the first quarter survey of housing rentals is also included in the CPI for March. Annual inflation for actual rentals was unchanged from December at 2,5%, while owner-occupied housing was 2,7% compared with December\u2019s reading of 2,8%.<\/p>\n In March, inflation for household contents and services rose to 6,9% from 6,2% in February. This is the highest annual increase since June 2009 (7,0%). Prices for appliances, tableware and equipment rose by 7,7%.<\/p>\n Domestic worker wages increased by 1,2% in March from December, leading to a 5,2% annual rise \u2013 the highest since February 2019 when the same rate was recorded.<\/p>\n Prices for personal care items increased by 11,1% in the 12 months to March. This is the highest annual rate since the 12,0% in October 2009.<\/p>\n The charts below show the products that recorded the largest percentage price increases in March.<\/p>\n 1<\/sup>\u00a0Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.\u00a0Petrol price archive<\/em>\u00a0(click\u00a0here<\/a>).<\/p>\n For more information, download the February 2023 CPI statistical release here.<\/a> Access the archive 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":" Headline consumer inflation edged higher to 7,1% in March from 7,0% in February and 6,9% in January. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 1,0% in March, the most significant monthly rise since July 2022 when it was 1,5%. Food & non-alcoholic beverages and transport were the main drivers behind the annual read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n