![\"cpiMay\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cpiMay.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe monthly change in the CPI was 0,3% in April, softer than the 0,8% rise recorded in March.<\/p>\n
General food inflation slows, except for vegetables, fruit and hot beverages<\/strong><\/p>\n Annual inflation for food & NAB moderated further from 5,1% in March to 4,7% in April, representing a fifth consecutive month of decline. Most food & NAB sub-categories witnessed lower annual rates, except for vegetables, fruit and hot beverages.<\/p>\n On average, vegetable prices increased by 7,4% in the 12 months to April, higher than the 6,0% increase recorded in March. Vegetable products that recorded relatively high price increases include potatoes, frozen potato chips, broccoli and beans. The annual rate for fruit rose from 3,3% in March to 4,5%, mainly driven by higher prices for bananas and apples. Hot beverage inflation increased marginally from 11,2% to 11,4%. The rates for instant coffee and black tea remain in double-digit territory.<\/p>\n Bread & cereal inflation continued to slow, declining for a 12th consecutive month in April. The annual rate eased to 4,3% from 5,0% in March. Bread flour, cake flour, ready-mix flour, white bread, pasta, rusks, savoury biscuits and maize meal are cheaper than a year ago. The average price of a loaf of white bread was R18,43 in April\u00a02024, down from R19,07 in April\u00a02023. On the other hand, sharp price increases were recorded for rice, pizzas & pies, instant noodles and sweet biscuits. Annual rice inflation accelerated to 26,4%, the highest reading since May\u00a02009 when the rate was 41,9%.<\/p>\n The annual rate for sugar, sweets & desserts cooled to 16,8% from 17,8% in March. Inflation for products such as white sugar, brown sugar, chocolates and jam remain elevated.<\/p>\n Egg inflation recorded its fifth consecutive month of decline after peaking at 39,9% in November\u00a02023, then receding to 25,1% in April 2024. Except for whiteners, condensed milk, Gouda cheese and fresh cream, most products in the milk, eggs & cheese category recorded lower annual rates in April. This pulled overall inflation for the category down to 8,7% from 10,1% in March.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes in April<\/strong><\/p>\n The annual rate for restaurants & hotels rose to 7,5% in April from 5,7% in March. Hotel prices jumped by 1,5% between March and April, taking the annual rate for hotels to 10,4%.<\/p>\n Fuel prices increased by a monthly 1,9%, pushing the annual rate to 9,0%. Inland 95-octane petrol was R25,12 per litre in April\u00a02024, up from R22,97 in April\u00a02023.1<\/sup><\/p>\n The graphs below show the products that recorded the most significant annual and monthly price increases in April.<\/p>\n Download the April\u00a02024 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 <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The consumer price index (CPI) recorded an annual increase of 5,2% in April, down from 5,3% in March and 5,6% in February. Housing & utilities, miscellaneous goods & services, food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) and transport were the main drivers behind the headline rate in April. The monthly change in the CPI was 0,3% in read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n