South Africa’s annual consumer inflation climbed to 3.6% in October, up from 3.4% in September, marking the highest reading since September 2024, when inflation reached 3.8%.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported that the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.1% month-on-month.
Mixed category performance as some costs heat up
The rise was driven largely by increases in:
- Transport
- Recreation, sport & culture
- Alcoholic beverages & tobacco
At the same time, inflation eased in several major spending categories, including:
- Food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB)
- Restaurants & accommodation services
Food inflation eases again
Food and NAB inflation fell to 3.9%, down from September’s 4.5%, as several sub-categories recorded slower price growth, including:
- Vegetables
- Fruits & nuts
- Cold & hot beverages
- Sugar, confectionery & desserts
- Meat
Categories that rose faster included cereal products, fish and seafood, oils and fats, dairy and eggs, and the broad “other food” grouping.
Meat prices: Still high, but easing
Meat inflation continues to cool from its recent peak, dropping to 11.4% from 11.7%, though many items remain steeply priced:
- Stewing beef: +30.9%
- Beef steak: +27.9%
- Beef mince: +27.1%
- Sausages: +17.3%
- Boerewors: +15.6%
- Mutton: +13.4%
However, some relief is emerging. Prices dropped for:
- Corned meat
- Fresh whole chicken
- Bacon (200g): R41.25 → R41.11
Other notable food trends
- Sugar, confectionery & desserts: Inflation slowed to 3.5%, the lowest since March 2022
- Hot beverages: Fell to 8.8%, the softest reading since August 2023. Black tea, rooibos, and cappuccino sachets all became cheaper
- Cereal products: Increased to 2.0% from 1.6%. Maize meal surged to 10.7%, while other staples such as white rice, brown bread, and instant noodles became cheaper
- Dairy & eggs: Still in deflation at -1.5%, with many products costing less than a year ago
Transport inflation turns positive after more than a year
Transport inflation moved back into positive territory for the first time in 13 months, rising from -0.1% to 1.5%.
Fuel saw a modest month-on-month increase of 0.1%:
- Petrol: +0.2%
- Diesel: -0.7%
This pushed annual fuel inflation to 3.3%, its first positive reading since August 2024.
Leisure and lifestyle costs rise
The recreation, sport & culture category saw inflation climb to 3.4% from 2.9%.
Notable increases include:
- Top 10 bestselling books: +59.4%
- Movie tickets: +15.8%
- Gym fees: +10.5%
Sporting event ticket prices, however, fell 12.6% year-on-year.
Provincial and income-level differences
Stats SA’s breakdown shows:
- Highest provincial inflation: North West (4.3%)
- Lowest: Eastern Cape (3.1%)
While poorer households typically face higher inflation, October saw an unusual shift: The richest spending group recorded the highest inflation rate at 3.9%.
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