![\"cp1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRecreation, sport & culture; food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB); alcoholic beverages & tobacco; and communication recorded higher annual rates in February. Inflation cooled for several product categories, most notably personal care & miscellaneous services; health; restaurants & accommodation; furnishings, household equipment & routine maintenance; and transport.<\/p>\n
Maize meal inflation remains hot<\/strong><\/p>\n The annual rate for food & NAB accelerated to a four-month peak in February, rising to 2,8% from 2,3% in January. Fruit & nuts, vegetables, hot beverages, seafood, meat and cereals recorded higher rates. However, cold beverages; milk, dairy & eggs; oils & fats; and sugar, confectionery & desserts witnessed slower price increases.<\/p>\n Maize meal inflation reached a 17-month high and samp a 19-month high in February. The price index for maize meal increased by an annual 10,6% and samp by 18,7%. In terms of average prices, a 5\u202fkg bag of maize meal was R74,91 in February, up from R68,52 a year ago. The price for samp (1\u202fkg) increased to R22,86 from R19,28 over the same period.<\/p>\n These increases are driven by inflationary pressure in the production chain. According to the latest producer price index (PPI), annual farm inflation for maize was 64,7% and factory-gate inflation was 15,0% in January.<\/p>\n On average, consumer prices for meat remained stable in February, recording a monthly change of 0%. The annual rate for the category was also 0%, indicating that prices (on average) remained stable in the 12\u00a0months to February.<\/p>\n While meat remains subdued, inflation for hot beverages continues to accelerate. The annual change in the price index for hot beverages was 14,6% in February, up from 13,7% in January. Prices rose sharply by 1,1% between January and February. Instant coffee recorded an annual rate of 19,0%, the highest in six months. The rate for black tea was 12,4%.<\/p>\n The graphs below show food and beverage products that registered notable price changes in February.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n Stats SA surveys medical insurance (medical aid premiums) and health services in February. Medical aid premiums increased by 10,5% this year, slightly up from 10,3% in 2024. Medical services rose by 6,1% compared with a 5,0% rise last year. General practitioner\u2019s fees increased by 6,6% and dentist prices were up by 5,2%.<\/p>\n Fuel prices climbed by 3,9% between January and February, taking the annual rate to -3,6% from -4,5% in January. The price for inland 95-octane petrol was R22,41 in February, up from R21,59 in January. Despite this increase, the price is still lower than it was a year ago (R23,24).<\/p>\n For more information, download the February 2025 CPI statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices here.<\/a> The February CPI is the second to incorporate the changes to the CPI basket and weights announced in January. Various documents covering the changes are available, including a summary article<\/a>, an overview note<\/a>, the release<\/a>, and a media presentation<\/a>. Additional documents are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1<\/sup> Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Comparing prices for petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin (IP)<\/em> (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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Annual consumer price inflation was 3,2% in February, unchanged from January. This marks the fourth consecutive month that inflation has remained above the four-and-a-half-year low of 2,8% in October. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,9% in February. Recreation, sport & culture; food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB); alcoholic beverages & tobacco; read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n