![\"cpia_new1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cpia_new1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,8% in March. This is lower than the 1,0% increase in February.<\/p>\n
The biggest movers in March<\/strong><\/p>\n The categories with the highest annual price changes in March were miscellaneous goods & services (up 8,5%), education (up 6,3%), health (up 6,0%) and housing & utilities (up 5,9%).<\/p>\n Education fees are surveyed once a year in March.1<\/sup> Overall, education was 6,3% more expensive in 2024 than it was in 2023. This exceeds the 5,7% annual increase in 2023 and is the highest since 2020 when the rate was 6,4%.<\/p>\n High schools recorded the most significant increase in 2024 (up 7,3%), followed by primary schools and tertiary institutions (both up by 5,9%).<\/p>\n Cr\u00e8ches and university boarding were also surveyed in March. Cr\u00e8ches increased their fees by 6,0%. University boarding is on average 8,2% more expensive than a year ago.2<\/sup><\/p>\n The increase in miscellaneous goods & services was mainly driven by higher health insurance premiums, recorded by Stats SA in February. As reported in last month\u2019s review,3<\/sup> the average price of health insurance increased by 12,9% in 2024.<\/p>\n The 6,0% annual rise in the health index was driven by increased prices of medical products and medical services.<\/p>\n Food inflation at a three-and-a-half-year low<\/strong><\/p>\n Inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) slowed to 5,1% in March from 6,1% in February. This is down from its recent peak of 14,0% in March\u00a02023, and is the lowest annual increase since September\u00a02020 when the rate was 3,8%.<\/p>\n Bread & cereals registered a softer annual print of 5,0% from February\u2019s 6,1%. The rate is substantially lower than the recent high of 21,8% in January\u00a02023. Bread flour, pasta, rusks, maize meal, ready-mix flour and white bread are cheaper than a year ago.<\/p>\n Meat inflation also cooled in March on the back of lower beef and mutton prices. The annual rate for meat in March was 0,8%, significantly lower than the recent peak of 11,4% in February\u00a02023.<\/p>\n Annual inflation for sugar, sweets & desserts has remained above the 15,0% level since June\u00a02023. The rate in March\u00a02024 was 17,8%. Products with the most significant annual price increases include brown sugar (up 22,0%), white sugar (up 20,1%), chocolate slabs (up 17,9%) and chocolate bars (up 15,9%).<\/p>\n Other notable prices changes in March<\/strong><\/p>\n Inflation for alcohol & tobacco was fuelled by annual increases in excise taxes. The index increased by a monthly 1,9% in March. This is the highest monthly rise since March last year, when excise tax increases led to a 2,2% monthly rise. Prices increased by 4,5% overall in the 12 months to March.<\/p>\n Housing rents were surveyed in March, rising by 0,8%.<\/p>\n The transport index rose by 2,0% between February and March, mainly due to a monthly rise of 5,3% in fuel prices. On average, petrol increased by 5,2% and diesel by 5,3%.<\/p>\n The graphs below show the products that recorded the most significant annual and monthly price increases in March.<\/p>\n Download the March 2024 CPI statistical release and Excel files with indices and average prices here<\/a>. The archive is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1 <\/sup>Prices for several items in the inflation basket are not surveyed monthly. See Table\u00a0F in the statistical release for the complete survey schedule.<\/p>\n 2 <\/sup>In the CPI basket, primary schools, high schools and tertiary institutions are classified in the education category. Cr\u00e8ches are classified under miscellaneous goods & services and university boarding under restaurants & hotels.<\/p>\n 3 <\/sup>Stats SA, Inflation heats up for a second consecutive month<\/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":" Following a two-month upswing, headline inflation softened to 5,3% in March from 5,6% in February. The rate has held its ground between 5% and 6% since September\u00a02023. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,8% in March. This is lower than the 1,0% increase in February. The biggest movers in March The read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n