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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFuel prices bite hard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumers were dealt a painful fuel price blow in April. The index for fuel rose by 18,2% from March, the steepest monthly increase since the current CPI series began in 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Petrol prices were up by 15,2% and diesel by 35,4%. The price for inland 93-octane petrol rose from R20,19 per litre in March to R23,25 per litre in April. This is the fifth-largest increase for this grade in 50 years, and the biggest this century.1 <\/sup>Motorists using diesel felt the most pain. The average price for a litre of diesel jumped from R21,28 in March to R28,80 in April.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n The passenger transport services index climbed by 3,1% between March and April, the largest monthly rise since July 2022. Following a 14,3% hike in March, the price of an air ticket jumped by a further 24,5%. This is the largest monthly increase in airfares since March 2008, when ticket prices rose by 32,4%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some respite: Food inflation slows further<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast to the fuel price bruising, annual inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) decreased for a third consecutive month, from 3,6% in March to 2,9% in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Six of the eleven food & NAB categories recorded lower annual rates. Meat registered the largest decline, easing from 11,6% in March to 9,4% in April. Beef mince inflation slowed from 22,2% to 15,3% and stewing beef from 22,6% to 8,7%. The rate for pork moderated from 19,5% to 17,7%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cereal products category recorded its third consecutive month of deflation. Five of the nineteen items in the category are cheaper than a year ago. These include white rice, maize meal, porridge, basmati rice and bread flour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Milk, other dairy products & eggs recorded its first annual increase since May 2025. The rate was 0,1%, up from March\u2019s -0,5%. Powdered milk and eggs continue to occupy deflationary territory, at -3,4% and -5,8% respectively.<\/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 Other notable price changes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The insurance index increased by a monthly 1,3%. This is primarily due to the increase in health insurance premiums. Health insurance (i.e. medical aid contributions) recorded a monthly rise of 1,8%, taking the annual increase to 8,3%. Several medical schemes increased their contributions earlier in the year, with the remainder implementing new premiums in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, download the April\u00a02026 CPI statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 <\/sup>Stats SA, A 50-year take on the petrol price<\/em> [8 May 2026] (read here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 <\/sup>Stats SA, CPI_Average Prices_All urban(202604)<\/em> Excel file.<\/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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Consumer inflation jumped to 4,0% in April from 3,1% in March, driven mainly by sharp fuel price increases. This is the highest inflation print since August 2024, when the headline rate was 4,4%. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 1,1% in April. Fuel prices bite hard Consumers were dealt a painful fuel read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n