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.

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.

Core consumer prices in South Africa increased 3 percent in May 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.

The latest inflation rate, i.e. the percent change in the CPI from a year ago to now, in South Africa was 2.16 percent. That number was released in . It shows an increase from the inflation rate in the previous month when it stood at 2.14 percent. Compared to a year ago, we see a decrease from...

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.

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]

The average inflation rate in Southern Africa was projected at seven percent in 2022. This represented a decrease in comparison to the previous years. In 2020, the rate reached a peak at 12 percent.

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.

South Africa: Inflation forecast: The latest value from 2030 is 4.5 percent, unchanged from 4.5 percent in 2029. In comparison, the world average is 3.65 percent, based on data from 182 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1981 to 2030 is 7.73 percent. The minimum value, 0.3 percent, was reached in 2003 while the maximum of 19.23 percent was recorded in 1985.

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.

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.

South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: Financial Analyst: Current Year data was reported at 4.800 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.867 % for Jun 2018. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: Financial Analyst: Current Year data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.800 % from Sep 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 73 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.694 % in Sep 2008 and a record low of 1.400 % in Dec 2004. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: Financial Analyst: Current Year 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.

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

Inflation rates experienced by different groups of consumers within a country vary. This is because the prices of goods and services and the expenditure patterns of consumers differ. The published inflation rate is used for important decisions regarding the preservation of consumer purchasing power. These include the adjustment of social grants and minimum wages by government and the benchmarking of returns by investors when making investment decisions. It is thus vital that inflation is measured accurately to ensure the purchasing power of consumers is preserved. Current measures of inflation published by Stats SA are applicable to typical consumers and are not relevant to each individual. This resource supplements a study that seeks to provide a publicly available model that can be used by consumers to calculate their personal rate of inflation.

As of April 2022, the food inflation rate in South Africa stood at six percent compared to the same month last year. Food prices have been following a fluctuating increasing trend. For instance, food inflation was at 2.9 percent in January 2019, whereas by April 2022 it amounted to six percent.

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.

Inflation rate (GDP deflator) of South Africa slipped by 3.77% from 5.0 % in 2022 to 4.8 % in 2023. Since the 21.28% surge in 2021, inflation rate (GDP deflator) sank by 26.53% in 2023. 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.

Inflation across Sub-Saharan Africa has regularly fluctuated since the year 2000. In 2030, it is estimated that inflation had reached 18.33 percent, marking the largest annual change since the 2008 recession; however it is estimated that inflation will fall steadily in the coming years.

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

Inflation, monthly percent change in the CPI in South Africa, May, 2025 The most recent value is 0.2 percent as of May 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 0.3 percent. Historically, the average for South Africa from February 2007 to May 2025 is 0.45 percent. The minimum of -1.22 percent was recorded in December 2008, while the maximum of 2.04 percent was reached in July 2008. | TheGlobalEconomy.com