![\"cpi1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cpi1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFood inflation creeps higher<\/strong><\/p>\n Inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) was 2,5%, up from 2,3% in November. The annual rate for bread & cereals remained steady at 3,7%. The monthly rate was -0,2%, with several wheat-based products declining in price between November and December. Examples include instant noodles (down 2,2%), cake flour (down 1,1%), macaroni (down 0,7%) and brown bread (down 0,6%).<\/p>\n The price index for meat softened by 0,4% in the 12\u00a0months to December, representing the lowest annual rate since May\u00a02019 (-0,9%). Products that registered the largest annual declines included sausages (down 3,3%), pork (down 2,2%) and whole chicken (down 1,7%). Several products were more expensive, however, including beef extract (up 5,1%), bacon (up 4,8%) and ham (up 4,2%).<\/p>\n The price index for hot beverages rose by 13,5%, the highest annual rate among all food & NAB groups. Products in this category continued to witness sharp price increases. Instant coffee was 16,1% more expensive in December\u00a02024 compared with December\u00a02023. Other items experiencing hot inflation include black tea (up 14,2%), drinking chocolate (up 14,1%), ground coffee (up 8,0%), rooibos tea (up 7,8%) and cappuccino sachets (up 3,8%).<\/p>\n The graphs below show food and beverage products that registered notable price changes in December.<\/p>\n Used vehicles cheaper in December<\/strong><\/p>\n Vehicle inflation dropped steeply during 2024 after starting the year at 7,2% in January, falling to 2,6% in December. On average, used vehicles are now cheaper than they were a year ago, recording a decline of 0,6%.<\/p>\n The index for fuel rose by 1,1% between November and December. Despite this increase, fuel prices are 10,2% lower than in December\u00a02023.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes in December<\/strong><\/p>\n Housing rents are measured every quarter. The annual rate for actual rentals was 2,8% in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 3,3% in the third quarter of 2024. Owners\u2019 equivalent rent inflation decreased to 2,4% from 2,9% over the same period. These declines pulled the overall rate for housing & utilities down to 4,4% from 4,7%.<\/p>\n Domestic worker wages \u2013 also measured quarterly \u2013 recorded an annual increase of 4,0% in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 4,1% in the third quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n Inflation for restaurants & hotels slowed to 4,2% in December from 5,9% in November. This was largely due to a decline in hotel room rates between November and December.<\/p>\n 2024 in a nutshell<\/strong><\/p>\n The data for December concludes the results for 2024. The average inflation rate for the year was 4,4%, down from the average of 6,0% in 2023. Inflation in 2024 was the lowest in four years since the pandemic in 2020, when the average rate was 3,3%.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information, download the December\u00a02024 CPI statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices here.<\/a> The archive is available 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 inflation increased for a second consecutive month, rising to 3,0% in December from 2,9% in November and 2,8% in October. The monthly rate in December was 0,1%. Food inflation creeps higher Inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) was 2,5%, up from 2,3% in November. The annual rate for bread & cereals remained steady read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n