(Archive photo: Nico Strydom/Maroela Media)
Consumer inflation increased from 3.1% in March to 4% in April, mainly driven by the recent sharp increases in the price of fuel.
This is the highest inflation figure since August 2024, when the rate stood at 4.4%.
Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) says that in April consumers were dealt a significant blow in terms of the price of fuel.
So much so that the index for fuel rose by 18.2% from March to April – the biggest monthly rise since the current CPI series began in 2008, StatsSA pointed out on Wednesday morning.
The latest figures show that petrol prices have risen by 15.2% and diesel by a significant 35.4%.
The price for domestic 93 octane petrol rose from R20.19 per liter in March to R23.25 per liter in April. This is the fifth largest increase for this grade in 50 years and the largest this century, says StatsSA.
At the diesel pump the effects were even worse. The average price for a liter of diesel rose from R21.28 in March to R28.80 in April.
The index for passenger transport services climbed 3.1% from March to April, the biggest monthly increase since July 2022.
The price of a plane ticket meanwhile rose by a further 24.5% in April after a rise of 14.3% in March. This is the biggest monthly increase in air ticket prices since March 2008, when ticket prices rose by 32.4%.
#SAInflation || The fuel price index rose by 18,2% between March and April, the steepest monthly increase since the current #CPI series began in 2008.
Read more on the latest CPI figures here: https://t.co/Q9SWmVTOWV#StatsSA #KnowYourStatsZA #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/PUuslZo83S
— Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) (@StatsSA) May 20, 2026
At least cost a bit cheaper
In contrast to the rising fuel prices, the annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) at least fell for the third consecutive month, from 3.6% in March to 2.9% in April.
Six of the 11 food and NAB categories recorded lower annual rates.
Meat recorded the biggest decrease, with a drop of 11.6% in March to 9.4% in April.
The inflation of ground beef slowed from 22.2% to 15.3% and for stew meat from 22.6% to 8.7%.
The rate for pork fell moderately from 19.5% to 17.7%.
The cereal products category recorded its third consecutive month of reductions. Five of the 19 items in this category are cheaper than a year ago. These include white rice, corn flour, porridge, basmati rice and bread flour.
Milk, other dairy products and eggs recorded their first annual increase since May last year. The rate was 0.1%, compared to March’s -0.5%.
Powdered milk and eggs are also currently in deflationary territory, at -3.4% and -5.8% respectively.
#SAInflation || Seasonal fruit, white rice, potatoes, beans and garlic are cheaper than a year ago.
Read more on the latest #CPI figures here: https://t.co/Q9SWmVTOWV#StatsSA #KnowYourStatsZA #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/KAhvT3UObd
— Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) (@StatsSA) May 20, 2026
Other notable price changes
The insurance index rose by 1.3% monthly. This is mainly due to the increase in health insurance premiums, explained StatsSA.
Health insurance (medical fund contributions) experienced a monthly increase of 1.8%, bringing the annual increase to 8.3%.
StatsSA says several medical schemes increased their contributions earlier this year, with the rest implementing new premiums in April.