![\"newCPI1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/newCPI1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFuel and education help ease inflationary pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n The fuel index softened by 0,4% from February, taking the annual rate from -3,6% to -8,8%. A litre of 95-octane petrol (inland) was R22,34 in March, down from R24,45 a year before.1<\/sup> The average price for diesel declined to R22,80 from R24,85 over the same period.2<\/sup><\/p>\n Education fees are surveyed once a year in March. The price index for education increased by 4,5%, lower than the 6,4% rise in 2024. School fees increased by 5,0% (from 6,6% in 2024). Tertiary education institutions charged 3,7% more in 2025, compared with the 5,9% rise recorded the year before.<\/p>\n Food inflation slightly softer in March<\/strong><\/p>\n The annual rate for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) edged lower to 2,7% in March from 2,8% in February. Vegetables, fruits & nuts, cereal products, meat and fish registered higher annual rates. Lower rates were recorded for oils & fats; hot beverages; milk, other dairy products & eggs; cold beverages; and sugar, confectionery & desserts.<\/p>\n Inflation for cereal products accelerated to 4,3% in March from 3,9% in February. Maize meal remains a key driver in this category, with its annual rate accelerating to 13,1% from 10,6%. There is some good news, however. Monthly increases for maize meal have recently slowed, from 4,8% in January to 2,4% in February and 1,4% in March.<\/p>\n Coffee and tea drinkers continue to feel pain. Although the annual rate for the hot beverages category declined slightly in March, it remains in double-digit territory at 14,4%. In fact, this category has witnessed double-digit inflation in all but 5 of the 32 months since August\u00a02022. Instant coffee is 18,8% and black tea 12,8% more expensive than a year ago.<\/p>\n Alcoholic beverages also added pressure, with prices rising on average by 2,1% between February and March. This took the annual rate to 4,7% from 4,1% in February. Annual increases were recorded for wine (up 5,3%), beer (up 4,4%) and spirits & liqueurs (up 4,3%).<\/p>\n The graphs below show food and beverage products that registered notable price changes.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes <\/strong><\/p>\n Housing rents for the first quarter were surveyed in March. Actual rentals increased by 2,9% and owners\u2019 equivalent rent by 2,4% in March\u00a02025 compared with March\u00a02024.<\/p>\n For more information, download the March\u00a02025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices here.<\/a><\/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 2 <\/sup>Stats SA, CPI_Average Prices_All urban(202503)<\/em> Excel file.<\/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":" Headline consumer inflation decreased for the first time in five months, edging lower to 2,7% in March from 3,2% in February. The decline was mainly due to lower fuel prices and softer tuition inflation. Fuel and education help ease inflationary pressure The fuel index softened by 0,4% from February, taking the annual rate from -3,6% read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n