Consumer Price Index CPI in South Africa increased to 102.10 points in May from 101.90 points in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI) - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

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 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 in South Africa remained unchanged at 2.80 percent in May. This dataset provides - South Africa Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

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.

SARB Forecast: Consumer Price Index: YoY data was reported at 5.400 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.600 % for 2019. SARB Forecast: Consumer Price Index: YoY data is updated yearly, averaging 5.350 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2020, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.600 % in 2019 and a record low of 4.800 % in 2018. SARB Forecast: Consumer Price Index: YoY data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by South African Reserve Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.I029: Consumer Price Index: Year on Year Growth: Forecast: South African Reserve Bank.

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 126.1 points regarding milk, eggs, and cheese. This is an increase of 15.4 points from the previous year.

South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Year on Year Inflation Target: Upper Bound data was reported at 6.000 % in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 6.000 % for 2016. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Year on Year Inflation Target: Upper Bound data is updated yearly, averaging 6.000 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.000 % in 2017 and a record low of 6.000 % in 2017. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Year on Year Inflation Target: Upper Bound data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by South African Reserve Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.I001: Consumer Price Index: Inflation Target.

South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: Financial Analyst: Five Years Ahead data was reported at 5.296 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.142 % for Jun 2018. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: Financial Analyst: Five Years Ahead data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.467 % from Sep 2011 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.800 % in Mar 2012 and a record low of 5.142 % in Jun 2018. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: Financial Analyst: Five Years Ahead data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.I049: Inflation Expectation.

CPI: Weights: Education: Primary and Secondary Education data was reported at 1.270 Per 100 in 2025. CPI: Weights: Education: Primary and Secondary Education data is updated yearly, averaging 1.270 Per 100 from Jan 2025 (Median) to 2025, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.270 Per 100 in 2025 and a record low of 1.270 Per 100 in 2025. CPI: Weights: Education: Primary and Secondary Education 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.I034: Consumer Price Index: Weights.

Cost of food in South Africa increased 4.80 percent in May 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.

Abstract

The CPI is a current social and economic indicator constructed to measure changes over time in the general level of prices of consumer goods and services that households acquire, use, or pay for. The index measures changes in consumer prices over time by measuring the cost of purchasing a fixed basket of consumer goods and services of constant quality and similar characteristics. The products in the basket are selected to be representative of households' expenditure during a specific year. Such an index is called a fixed-basket price index. Changes in the index reflect the effects of price changes on the cost of achieving a constant standard of living.

The South African CPI has three equally important objectives: 1. To measure inflation in the economy so that macroeconomic policy is based on comprehensive and up-to-date price information. 2. To measure changes in the cost of living of South African households to promote equity in measures taken to adjust wages, grants, service agreements and contracts. 3. To provide a deflator for consumer expenditure in the national accounts and other economic data, to compute volume (as opposed to nominal) estimates.

In compiling the South African CPI, Stats SA largely follows the methodology guidelines in the 2020 Consumer Price Index Manual: Concepts and Methods published jointly by the International Monetary Fund, International Labour Organization, Statistical Office of the European Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank.

Kind of data

Time-Series

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): Weights: Transport: Private Operation data was reported at 5.800 Per 100 in 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 5.800 Per 100 for 2023. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Transport: Private Operation data is updated yearly, averaging 5.600 Per 100 from Jan 2009 (Median) to 2024, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.900 Per 100 in 2016 and a record low of 4.490 Per 100 in 2012. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Transport: Private Operation 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.I035: Consumer Price Index: Weights (Old Classification).

As of March 2020, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the change of prices over time, was measured at 108.3 points regarding personal care. This is symbolizing an increase of 2.1 points from the previous year.

South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Education: Tertiary data was reported at 1.000 Per 100 in 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.000 Per 100 for 2023. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Education: Tertiary data is updated yearly, averaging 0.950 Per 100 from Jan 2009 (Median) to 2024, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.120 Per 100 in 2016 and a record low of 0.800 Per 100 in 2012. South Africa Consumer Price Index (CPI): Weights: Education: Tertiary 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.I035: Consumer Price Index: Weights (Old Classification).

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 123.8 points regarding food and non-alcoholic beverages. This is symbolizing an increase of 5.3 points from the previous year.

South Africa ZA: Consumer Price Index (CPI): % Change data was reported at 5.181 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.595 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Consumer Price Index (CPI): % Change data is updated yearly, averaging 6.510 % from Dec 1958 (Median) to 2017, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.655 % in 1986 and a record low of -0.692 % in 2004. South Africa ZA: Consumer Price Index (CPI): % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.IMF.IFS: Consumer and Producer Price Index: Annual.

As of February 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the change of prices over time, was measured at 114 points for wine. This is symbolizing an increase of six percent compared to the previous year.