{"id":19464,"date":"2026-04-22T10:09:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T08:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19464"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T08:49:43","slug":"inflation-nudges-higher-in-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19464","title":{"rendered":"Inflation nudges higher in March\u00a02026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The cost of living rose by 3,1% in the 12 months to March, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI). This is slightly up from 3,0% recorded in February. Prices increased on average by 0,6% in March 2026 compared with February 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Six of the 13 categories in the CPI basket recorded higher annual rates, including restaurants & accommodation services; education; transport; housing & utilities; information & communication; and recreation, sport & culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education inflation quickens in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The education component in the CPI is updated once a year in March. Tuition fees increased by 5,4% in 2026, higher than the 4,5% rise recorded in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Primary & secondary education rose by 6,2% (from 5,0% in 2025), while tertiary education increased by 4,2% (from 3,7% in 2025). Private secondary schools recorded the sharpest rise in 2026, climbing by 7,5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transport inflation moves higher, but remains in deflationary territory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual rate for the transport category increased from -2,1% in February to -1,6% in March. The negative values represent deflation, meaning that transport prices were, in general, 1,6% cheaper in March 2026 compared with March 2025. The deflation is a result of fuel prices declining by 8,7% over the 12-month period, supported by a marginal increase of 0,4% in vehicle prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passenger transport fares recorded an annual rise of 0,7%. The monthly rate was 1,6%, driven by a 20,0% jump in long-distance bus fares and a 14,3% increase in airfares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CPI release for March covers data collected before the sharp fuel price increases that were introduced on 1 April. The impact of these higher prices on inflation will be included in the next CPI release that will be published on 20 May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food inflation eases for a second consecutive month<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual rate for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) slowed further to 3,6% in March from 3,7% in February and 4,4% in January. Four of the 11 food & NAB categories are in deflationary territory, including fruits & nuts; vegetables; cereal products; and milk, other dairy products & eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The milk, other dairy products & eggs category recorded its 10th successive month of deflation at -0,5% in March, slightly higher than February\u2019s -0,7%. Three products are cheaper than a year ago, namely fresh full-cream milk (currently in its 13th month of deflation at -0,4%), powdered milk (-5,5%), and eggs (-6,3%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prices for cereal products declined by 1,0% on average. White rice, porridge, maize meal, basmati rice, instant noodles, brown bread and bread flour are cheaper than in March 2025. The average price for a kilogram of white rice, for example, declined from R29,01 to R27,82 over the 12-month period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meat recorded its second monthly decrease, with beef prices moderating between February 2026 and March 2026. Declines were recorded for stewing beef (-4,2%), steak (-2,0%), mince (-1,9%) and offal (-1,5%). Biltong fans can also breathe a sigh of relief, with prices edging lower by 0,2%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual rate for meat also slowed, easing to 11,6% from 12,2% in February. Beef products registered lower rates. Most notably, steak retreated from 28,6% in February to 24,1% in March and stewing beef from 26,9% to 22,6%. Pork bucked the trend, increasing from 17,3% to 19,5%. Bacon inflation was also up, from 2,2% to 4,2%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The graph below shows the food and beverage products that recorded the sharpest price increases and decreases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The March CPI figures include results for the latest quarterly survey of housing rents. Actual rents increased by 4,0% in the first quarter of 2026, up from the 3,7% rise recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the first quarter, rents for houses increased by 3,7%, townhouses by 5,1% and flats by 4,2%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domestic worker wages increased by 3,7% in the first quarter of 2026. This followed an increase of 3,8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodation services recorded a large 5,4% monthly rise to reach an annual rate of 12,2%. University boarding fees climbed by 7,2% and hotels by 6,0% between February and March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information, download the March 2026 CPI statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar articles are available on the Stats SA website and can be accessed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a monthly overview of economic indicators and infographics, catch the latest edition of the Stats Biz newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The cost of living rose by 3,1% in the 12 months to March, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI). This is slightly up from 3,0% recorded in February. Prices increased on average by 0,6% in March 2026 compared with February 2026. Six of the 13 categories in the CPI basket recorded higher annual rates, including restaurants   read more »<\/a><\/p>\n

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