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.

South Africa inflation rate for 2023 was 6.07%, a 0.97% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>South Africa inflation rate for 2022 was <strong>7.04%</strong>, a <strong>2.43% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>South Africa inflation rate for 2021 was <strong>4.61%</strong>, a <strong>1.4% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>South Africa inflation rate for 2020 was <strong>3.21%</strong>, a <strong>0.91% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly. The Laspeyres formula is generally used.

Cost of food in South Africa increased 4 percent in April 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.

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

Inflation data scraped from Stats SA to be added to the ADH Inflation Database

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.

Data presented as a spreadsheet; Provides CPI for Food across all provinces in South Africa since 2008.Linage: The data presented is extracted from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Consumer Price Index (CPI) trends as published on https://www.statssa.gov.za/Publication Date: 23 October 2024Data Sources:Excel - CPI (COICOP) from January 2008 (202409), Stats SA, published 23 October 2024Contact Person:Elize van der Berg, Department of the Premier, Elize.VanDerBerg@westerncape.gov.za

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: OECD Groups: All Items Non-Food Non-Energy: Total for South Africa (CPGRLE01ZAQ657N) from Q2 2002 to Q3 2023 about South Africa, core, all items, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, and price.

South Africa ZA: Inflation:(GDP) Gross Domestic ProductDeflator data was reported at 5.537 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.774 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Inflation:(GDP) Gross Domestic ProductDeflator data is updated yearly, averaging 7.938 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.879 % in 1980 and a record low of 0.383 % in 1962. South Africa ZA: Inflation:(GDP) Gross Domestic ProductDeflator data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Inflation. 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.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Median;

South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: All Participants: One Year Ahead data was reported at 5.592 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.417 % for Jun 2018. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: All Participants: One Year Ahead data is updated quarterly, averaging 6.055 % from Sep 2000 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 73 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.725 % in Sep 2008 and a record low of 3.900 % in Jun 2005. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: All Participants: One Year 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.

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.

Data presented as a spreadsheet; Provides CPI for Food across all provinces in South Africa since 2008.Linage: The data presented is extracted from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Consumer Price Index (CPI) trends as published on https://www.statssa.gov.za/Publication Date: 23 October 2024Data Sources:Excel - CPI (COICOP) from January 2008 (202409), Stats SA, published 23 October 2024Contact Person:Elize van der Berg, Department of the Premier, Elize.VanDerBerg@westerncape.gov.za

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.

South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: All Participants: Five Years Ahead data was reported at 5.499 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.378 % for Jun 2018. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: All Participants: Five Years Ahead data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.933 % from Sep 2011 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.300 % in Dec 2011 and a record low of 5.296 % in Mar 2018. South Africa CPI Inflation Expectation: All Participants: 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.

Key information about South Africa CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change

• South Africa CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change was reported at 2.345 % in Jan 2025.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.564 % for Dec 2024.
• South Africa CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change data is updated monthly, averaging 5.882 % from Jan 2009 to Jan 2025, with 193 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.743 % in Feb 2009 and a record low of 0.744 % in May 2010.
• South Africa CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage 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: CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage: Y-o-Y Growth: Monthly.

CEIC calculates Consumer Food Price Index Growth from monthly Consumer Food Price Index. Statistics South Africa provides Consumer Food Price Index with base December 2024=100. Consumer Food Price Index covers Urban areas only as it is the official index used for inflation calculation in South Africa.

Producer Prices in South Africa increased 0.50 percent in April of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Producer Prices Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy in U.S. City Average (CPILFESL) from Jan 1957 to Apr 2025 about core, headline figure, all items, urban, consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The WC food CPI decreased to 9,5% in July, 0,6 percentage points lower than South Africa’s 10,1%. Load shedding and the weakening exchange rate remains key drivers to upward pressure. The continuous hikes in the repo rate have assisted in the headline CPI decreasing to below 6%, falling within the target range.