![\"Chart_01\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Chart_01.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe transport; recreation, sport & culture; and alcoholic beverages & tobacco categories recorded hotter annual rates. Inflation cooled for several categories, most notably restaurants & accommodation services and food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB).<\/p>\n
Food inflation dips further<\/strong><\/p>\n Annual inflation for food & NAB weakened to 3,9% from 4,5% in September. Several food & NAB categories witnessed a slowdown, including vegetables; fruits & nuts; cold & hot beverages; sugar, confectionery & desserts; and meat. Categories that recorded faster price growth include cereal products; fish & other seafood; oils & fats; milk, other dairy products & eggs; and the miscellaneous group \u2018other food\u2019.<\/p>\n Meat inflation retreated from its highest level in almost eight years, moderating to 11,4% from 11,7% in September. Despite the lower reading, several meat products remain in double-digit territory, including stewing beef (30,9%), beef steak (27,9%), beef mince (27,1%), sausages (17,3%), boerewors (15,6%) and mutton (13,4%).<\/p>\n Not all was bad news on the meat front, however. Corned meat, fresh whole chicken and bacon are cheaper than a year ago. The average price for 200\u00a0grams of bacon, for example, declined from R41,25 to R41,11 over this period.<\/p>\n Inflation for sugar, confectionery & desserts slowed to 3,5%, the lowest since March\u00a02022 (3,4%). White and brown sugar, jam, peanut butter, and chocolate recorded lower rates.<\/p>\n Hot beverage inflation dipped to 8,8%, its weakest level since August\u00a02023 (6,3%). In October, softer rates were recorded for black tea (5,1%), rooibos tea (1,6%) and cappuccino sachets (1,4%).<\/p>\n The annual rate for cereal products rose to 2,0% from 1,6% in September. Samp and maize meal recorded double-digit inflation in October, with maize meal reaching a four-month high at 10,7%. Several products cost less than a year ago, including white rice, brown bread, hot cereals and instant noodles.<\/p>\n Although it is in deflationary territory, the milk, other dairy products & eggs category witnessed a rise from -1,6% in September to -1,5% in October. A range of products carry a cheaper price tag than they did in the same month last year, including eggs, maize-based food drinks and several varieties of milk.<\/p>\n The graph below shows the food and beverage products that recorded the sharpest price increases and decreases in October.<\/p>\n Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n The annual rate for transport turned positive following 13 months of deflation, rising from \u20110,1% in September to 1,5% in October. Fuel prices increased by 0,1% between September and October, with diesel declining by 0,7% and petrol rising by 0,2%. This took the annual rate for fuel to 3,3%, the first positive reading since August\u00a02024.<\/p>\n The index for recreation, sport & culture increased to 3,4% from 2,9% in September. The top 10 books sold across several retailers recorded an annual inflation rate of 59,4%. Movie tickets increased by 15,8% and gym fees by 10,5% in the 12 months to October. However, ticket prices for sporting events declined by 12,6% over the same period.<\/p>\n Stats SA publishes inflation rates for each province and for different expenditure bands. The province with the highest inflation rate in October was North West at 4,3%, and the lowest was Eastern Cape at 3,1%. While the poorest typically experience higher inflation rates, in October the richest recorded the highest rate at 3,9%.<\/p>\n For more information, download the October\u00a02025 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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Annual consumer inflation rose to 3,6% in October from 3,4% in September. This is the highest inflation print since September\u00a02024 when the rate was 3,8%. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0,1% month-on-month in October\u00a02025. The transport; recreation, sport & culture; and alcoholic beverages & tobacco categories recorded hotter annual rates. Inflation cooled for read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n