In 2024, Zambia had the highest estimated inflation (Consumer Price Index) recorded in Southern Africa, at 15 percent. Lesotho and Zimbabwe followed with 6.4 and six percent, respectively.

Inflation Rate in South Africa increased to 3 percent in June from 2.80 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides - South Africa Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

South Africa’s inflation has been quite stable for the past years, levelling off between 3.2 and 6.9 percent, and is in fact expected to stabilize at around 4.5 percent in the future. South Africa is a mixed economy, generating most of its GDP through the services sector, especially tourism. However, the country struggles with unemployment and poverty.

Inflation who?

The inflation rate of a country is an important key factor to determine the country’s economic strength. It is calculated using the price increase of a defined product basket, containing goods and services on which the average consumer spends money throughout the year. They include, for example, expenses for groceries, clothes, rent, utilities, but also recreational activities, and raw materials (e.g. gas, oil), as well as federal fees and taxes. Some of these goods are more volatile than others – food prices, for example, are considered less reliable. The European Central Bank aims to keep inflation at around two percent in the long run.

What happened in 2016?

In 2016, South Africa’s inflation rate peaked at over 6.3 percent, and gross domestic product, and thus economic growth , took a hit, a sure indicator that something was affecting the country’s economic scaffolding: Low growth due to weak demand and an uncertain political future caused a crisis; then-President Jacob Zuma’s alleged mismanagement and unstable reign steeped in controversy and criminal charges even caused the economy’s outlook to be downgraded by ratings agencies. Zuma was relieved of his office in 2018 – ever since, inflation, GDP, and economic growth seem to have stabilized.

Cost of food in South Africa increased 5.10 percent in June of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

As of June 2020, the projected inflation rate in South Africa for the same year was revised to *** percent, after the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. The projection was done under the assumption of a worst-case scenario, where the pandemic persists to the end of 2020. Before the occurrence of COVID-19, the inflation rate was expected at *** percent.

On the other hand, the inflation rate for 2021 was reviewed to *** percent, in a worst-case scenario, whereas the previous outlook (before the pandemic) was at five percent.

This dataset provides values for INFLATION RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Key information about South Africa Core CPI Change

• South Africa Core CPI Change was reported at 3.512 % in Jan 2025.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.520 % for Dec 2024.
• South Africa Core CPI Change data is updated monthly, averaging 4.552 % from Jan 2009 to Jan 2025, with 193 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 8.457 % in May 2009 and a record low of 2.497 % in Mar 2021.
• South Africa Core CPI Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Core CPI: Y-o-Y Growth: Monthly.

CEIC calculates Core Consumer Price Index Growth from monthly Core Consumer Price Index. Statistics South Africa provides Core Consumer Price Index Growth with base December 2024=100. Core Consumer Price Index covers Urban areas only as it is the official index used for inflation calculation in South Africa. Core Consumer Price Index excludes Food, Non Alcoholic Beverages, Petrol and Energy.

As of July 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the change of prices over time, was measured at 123.5 points regarding food products. This is symbolizing an increase of five points from the previous year.

Inflation rate (GDP deflator) of South Africa plummeted by 20.00% from 4.8 % in 2023 to 3.8 % in 2024. Since the 21.28% surge in 2021, inflation rate (GDP deflator) sank by 41.22% in 2024. Inflation as measured by the annual growth rate of the GDP implicit deflator shows the rate of price change in the economy as a whole. The GDP implicit deflator is the ratio of GDP in current local currency to GDP in constant local currency.

Key information about South Africa Consumer Price Index CPI growth

• South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth was measured at 6.8 % YoY in Apr 2023, compared with a rate of 7.1 % in the previous month.
• South Africa Consumer Price Index growth data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1958 to Apr 2023, with an averaged number of 6.3 % YoY.
• The data reached an all-time high of 20.9 % YoY in Jan 1986 and a record low of -2.0 % YoY in Jan 2004.

CEIC calculates Consumer Price Index Growth from monthly Consumer Price Index. Statistics South Africa provides Consumer Price Index with base December 2021=100. Consumer Price Index covers Urban areas only as it is the official index used for inflation calculation in South Africa. Consumer Price Index Growth prior to January 2009 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

As of October 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline rate in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the overall change in the price of goods and services purchased by households over time, was measured at 2.8 points. This showed a decrease of one point from the previous month. Since January 2020, the CPI headline rate has fluctuated, however, a decreasing trend can be observed from February 2024.

Core consumer prices in South Africa increased 2.90 percent in June of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Core Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Zimbabwe had the highest inflation in Africa as of 2023. The rate reached roughly 172 percent when compared to the previous year, according to the source's estimates. This was followed by Sudan, with a rate increase of over 71 percent. Inflationary pressures in the country have been driven by a long-running economic crisis and political instability. By the end of 2021, the already fragile Sudanese economy suffered again when military forces took control of the government. With a

As of November 2023, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the change of prices over time, was measured at 111.2 points regarding supplies and services. This is an increase of 5.2 points from the previous year.

Inflation Expectations in South Africa decreased to 4.30 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 4.60 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - South Africa Inflation Expectations- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Aktualne wartości, dane historyczne, prognozy, statystyki, wykresy i kalendarz ekonomiczny - Republika Południowej Afryki - Inflacja. 1968-2022 Dane | 2023-2024 Prognozy TE.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, May, 2025 The most recent value is 102.1 index points as of May 2025, an increase compared to the previous value of 101.9 index points. Historically, the average for South Africa from January 2007 to May 2025 is 92.5624 index points. The minimum of 54.9 index points was recorded in January 2007, while the maximum of 124.2 index points was reached in December 2021. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

As of November 2023, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the change of prices over time, was measured at 111 points regarding medical services. This is an increase of six points from the previous year.

South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Clothing and Footwear: Clothing data was reported at 107.300 Dec2021=100 in Dec 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 107.300 Dec2021=100 for Nov 2024. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Clothing and Footwear: Clothing data is updated monthly, averaging 89.350 Dec2021=100 from Jan 2008 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 204 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 107.300 Dec2021=100 in Dec 2024 and a record low of 63.100 Dec2021=100 in Jan 2008. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Clothing and Footwear: Clothing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics South Africa. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.I013: Consumer Price Index: Dec2021=100.

As of April 2022, the food inflation rate in South Africa stood at *** percent compared to the same month last year. Food prices have been following a fluctuating increasing trend. For instance, food inflation was at *** percent in January 2019, whereas by April 2022 it amounted to *** percent.