![\"CPIAug1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/CPIAug1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,3%, down from 0,9% in July. The housing & utilities and transport categories drove much of the 0,3% increase, each contributing 0,1 of a percentage point to the monthly rate.<\/p>\n
Food inflation continues to taper off<\/strong><\/p>\n Annual inflation for food & NAB declined for a fifth straight month, softening from 9,9% in July to 8,0% in August. Except for fruit, all food and NAB categories recorded lower annual rates in August.<\/p>\n The bread & cereals category registered an annual rate of 9,9%, lower than July\u2019s reading of 13,1%. Several products were cheaper in August compared with July, including white bread, brown bread, maize meal and cereals. Rice put a damper on the party, however, with prices jumping by 3,4% month-on-month.<\/p>\n General meat inflation was softer too, with the annual rate declining to 3,6% from 5,1% in July. Prices for most beef and chicken products declined between July and August, with the exception of chicken giblets and beef extract. The price index for meat was 0,7% lower in August compared with July.<\/p>\n The milk, eggs & cheese category followed the same script. The annual rate eased from 14,4% in July to 11,9%. A number of products registered lower prices in August compared with July, including fresh full-cream milk, eggs and cheddar cheese. Favourite treats such as condensed milk and custard were sadly more expensive.<\/p>\n Sugar, sweets & desserts registered the highest annual inflation rate (18,5%) among all food & NAB categories. This was slightly cooler than July\u2019s print of 18,7%. Jam and chocolate slabs were cheaper in August compared with July, while prices for brown sugar, white sugar and ice cream continued to rise.<\/p>\n Annual inflation for alcoholic beverages slowed to 6,9% from 7,8% in July. Beer prices subsided by 0,8% in August compared with July. For wine drinkers, prices declined by 0,3% over the same period.<\/p>\n Municipal rates for electricity, water and property<\/strong><\/p>\n As mentioned in the July CPI overview,1<\/sup> Stats SA surveys municipal rates in July and August. The August data concludes the 2023 survey. Electricity tariffs increased by 15,3% in 2023, much higher than the 7,9% rise recorded in 2022. Households paid 9,6% more for water in 2023 after bearing the brunt of an 8,1% rise the year before. Property rates were up by 8,4% following a 4,3% increase in 2022.<\/p>\n In 2023, Western Cape residents experienced the biggest increases in both electricity tariffs (up 17,0%) and property rates (up 11,0%). Residents in KwaZulu-Natal recorded the largest rise in water charges (up 14,2%), followed by Gauteng (up 10,0%).<\/p>\n Other notable price changes in August<\/strong><\/p>\n Fuel prices increased by 2,2% between July and August, lifting the annual rate from -16,8% in July to -11,7%.<\/p>\n Restaurants & hotels recorded the second highest annual inflation rate (after food & NAB) in August. Restaurant inflation quickened to 6,7% from 6,5% in July. Prices for red meat-based products were up by 2,9% between July and August, resulting in an annual change of 9,8%. Hamburger prices increased by 1,2% between July and August, taking the annual rate to 6,6%.<\/p>\n Prices for hotel rooms increased by 5,9% in the 12 months to August. This is higher than the annual rate of 2,3% recorded in July.<\/p>\n The graphs below show the products that recorded the biggest price increases in August.<\/p>\n For more information, download the August\u00a02023 CPI statistical release and Excel files with indices and average prices here. <\/a>The archive is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1 <\/sup>Stats SA, Consumer inflation lowest in two 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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After four consecutive months of decline, annual consumer inflation pushed up in August, rising to 4,8% from 4,7% in July. Inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) continued to cool, taking some of the heat off the headline rate. This was not enough, however, to counteract a rise in fuel prices and increases in municipal read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n