![\"tshenepe1\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tshenepe1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAnnual inflation accelerated across several product categories, most notably transport and restaurants & accommodation. In contrast, food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB); alcoholic beverages & tobacco; and furnishings, household equipment & routine maintenance recorded lower rates.<\/p>\n
Food & NAB was a mixed bag in September. Meat and maize meal inflation remained elevated while price decreases were recorded for products such as milk, eggs and white rice.<\/p>\n
Meat inflation continues to surge<\/strong><\/p>\n Meat inflation reached 11,7%, the highest annual rate since January 2018 (13,4%). While month-on-month increases for beef products have slowed, price levels remain high. Stewing beef, for example, recorded an annual rise of 32,2%, but no monthly change.<\/p>\n Other meat categories are also feeling the heat. The annual rates for pork and lamb accelerated notably in September. Chicken inflation is also rising, albeit at a slower rate. IQF (individual quick frozen) chicken climbed to 5,0% from 4,4% in August, boosted by a monthly increase of 1,1%.<\/p>\n Milk and eggs cheaper than a year ago <\/strong><\/p>\n The milk, other dairy products & eggs category remained in deflationary territory for a fourth consecutive month, with prices on average 1,6% lower than a year ago.<\/p>\n Most varieties of milk were cheaper. For example, prices for fresh full-cream milk decreased by an annual 2,1%. Egg prices were also lower, with the annual rate for eggs dropping further to -8,2% from -6,7% in August. The average price of a box of 18 eggs, for example, was R62,58 in September\u00a02025, down from R69,36 in September\u00a02024.<\/p>\n Cheese inflation was higher, however, with Gouda 6,4% and cheddar 6,3% more expensive than a year ago.<\/p>\n The annual rate for cereal products crept up to 1,6% from 1,5% in August. Prices for white rice continue to fall, with the index 7,8% lower than a year ago. On the other end of the scale, maize meal inflation accelerated to 9,5% from 8,2% in August.<\/p>\n NAB eased to 4,1% from 4,9%. In September 2024, the rate was 9,5%. Inflation for hot beverages cooled slightly to 9,0% from 10,0% in August, much lower than the 15,8% recorded a year ago. Products in the NAB category that experienced the highest rates include coffee (12,2%), fizzy drinks in a can (7,8%) and black tea (7,1%). Fizzy drinks in a bottle, however, declined by 1,3%.<\/p>\n The graph below shows the food and beverage products that recorded the sharpest price increases and decreases in September.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n The September CPI release contains results for the most recent quarterly survey of housing rentals. Actual rentals increased by an annual 3,2%, up from 3,0% in June. Townhouse rentals registered a large annual rise of 5,4% from 4,1% in the previous quarter. Imputed rentals accelerated to 3,0% from 2,5%.<\/p>\n The transport category recorded its thirteenth month of deflation, with the annual rate at -0,1% in September. Motor vehicles are 1,4% more expensive than a year ago. Passenger transport is 1,9% cheaper. Fuel prices declined by 0,3% between August and September. The annual rate for fuel was -2,2%.<\/p>\n For more information, download the September 2025 CPI statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices 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 inflation rose slightly to 3,4% in September from 3,3% in August. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,2%. Annual inflation accelerated across several product categories, most notably transport and restaurants & accommodation. In contrast, food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB); alcoholic beverages & tobacco; and furnishings, household equipment & routine read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n