![\"cpi1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cpi1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nA 10,3% month-on-month increase in medical aid premiums (in the miscellaneous goods & services category) took the annual rate for health insurance to 12,9%. Premiums for all types of insurance have increased by 9,5% over the past year.<\/p>\n
Inflation for food & NAB slowed to 6,1% in February. Most categories recorded lower annual rates, except for hot beverages and oils & fats. The rate for hot beverages was driven higher by annual price increases for instant coffee (up 12,1%), black tea (up 10,1%) and Rooibos tea (up 8,1%).<\/p>\n
The rate for oils & fats remained in negative territory, mainly due to a 12,9% annual decline in the price of sunflower oil. However, the fall in prices did not extend to peanut butter, which has increased in price by 14,0% since February 2023.<\/p>\n
The lingering impact of rising egg prices continue to affect the milk, eggs & cheese category, with eggs 30,7% more expensive than a year ago. Although the current average price of a tray of six eggs (R25,48) is down from its peak in December\u00a02023 (R25,85), it is higher than the February\u00a02023 price tag (R21,13).<\/p>\n
Annual rice inflation increased further to 25,0% in February from 23,8% in January. A bag of rice (1\u00a0kg) would have set you back R31,83 in February, sharply up from R23,54 a year ago. Pizza & pies \u2013 also classified with rice in the bread & cereals category \u2013 have seen sharp price increases too, rising by 17,5% in the 12 months to February.<\/p>\n
Not all was bad news in the bread & cereals category, however. Several products are cheaper than a year ago, including bread flour (down 5,7%), rusks (down 2,7%), ready-mix flour (down 2,2%), pasta (down 2,1%) and macaroni (down 0,5%).<\/p>\n
The transport category registered an annual increase of 5,4%, driven higher mainly by increases in vehicle and fuel prices.<\/p>\n
The graphs below show the products that recorded the most significant annual and monthly price increases in February. Prices for health insurance, as well as for private-sector medical practitioners and hospitals, are surveyed once year in February.1<\/sup><\/p>\n Download the February 2024 CPI statistical release and Excel files with indices and average prices here. The archive is available here.<\/a><\/p>\n 1 <\/sup>See Table F in the statistical release for the complete survey schedule.<\/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":" Annual consumer inflation quickened in February, rising to 5,6% from 5,3% in January and 5,1% in December. Product categories that drove much of the upward momentum include housing & utilities, miscellaneous goods & services (most notably, insurance), food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) and transport. A 10,3% month-on-month increase in medical aid premiums (in the miscellaneous read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n