![\"pic1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pic1-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFuel prices cast a shadow<\/strong><\/p>\n The fuel index increased for a second consecutive month, rising by 7,6% between August and September. The price of inland 95-octane petrol jumped by R1,71 in September, reaching a 13-month high of R24,54.1<\/sup> The transport category \u2013 mainly influenced by fuel \u2013 exerted strong upward pressure on the monthly inflation rate. Transport contributed 0,4 of a percentage point to the 0,6% monthly rise in the consumer price index (CPI).<\/p>\n After three consecutive months in negative territory, annual fuel inflation jumped from -11,7% in August to 1,5% in September.<\/p>\n Food inflation ticks slightly higher<\/strong><\/p>\n After cooling for the past five months, the annual rate for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inched higher to 8,1% from 8,0% in August. Meat, fish, oils & fats, fruit and non-alcoholic beverages all registered higher annual rates in September. Lower rates were recorded for bread & cereals, sugar, sweets & desserts, vegetables and milk, eggs & cheese.<\/p>\n Meat prices increased on average by 0,6% between August and September, pushing the annual rate up to 3,8%. Poultry related products experienced some upward price movements in September as producers started to cull birds in response to the outbreak of avian flu.<\/p>\n Examples include fresh whole chicken (up 2,2%), fresh chicken portions (up 2,2%) and non-IQF chicken portions (up 1,9%). IQF chicken portions and chicken giblets were slightly cheaper.<\/p>\n Egg prices registered a monthly increase of 0,3% following a decline of 0,4% in August.<\/p>\n Prices for poultry related products deserve a close watch in the coming months to gauge the impact of the avian flu outbreak. The October CPI, due for release on 22 November, will provide the next update.<\/p>\n Inflation for bread & cereals eased for a fifth straight month, declining from 9,9% in August to 9,2% in September. Lower annual rates were recorded for most products in this group. Rice, for example, saw its rate slow to 18,6% from 19,8% in August. Higher rates were recorded for maize meal (11,9%), instant noodles (17,7%) and cakes and tarts (8,4%).<\/p>\n The price index for hot beverages jumped by 3,5% between August and September. The largest increases were recorded for instant coffee (up 4,8%), ground coffee (up 4,6%) and rooibos tea (up 3,7%).<\/p>\n Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n The September CPI includes housing rent data for the third quarter. The annual rate for actual rentals was 2,6% (down from 2,7% in the second quarter). The rate for imputed rentals was also 2,6% (down from 2,9% in the second quarter).<\/p>\n Annual health inflation edged higher to 6,5% in September from 6,2% in August. This is the highest rate for health since November 2017 when it was also 6,5%. Prices for medical products increased by 7,5% in the 12 months to September.<\/p>\n The graphs below show the products that recorded the largest price increases in September.<\/p>\n For more information, download the September\u00a02023 CPI statistical release and Excel files with indices and average prices here.<\/a> The archive is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1 <\/sup>Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Comparing prices for petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin (IP) (click 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":" Consumer price inflation increased to 5,4% in September from 4,8% in August. This brings the rate to the same level as June this year. Fuel prices cast a shadow The fuel index increased for a second consecutive month, rising by 7,6% between August and September. The price of inland 95-octane petrol jumped by R1,71 in read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n