Inflation jumps to 4% as fuel price surge drives steepest CPI rise in nearly two years
CPI rose to 4.0% last month, from 3.1% in March.
Statistics South Africa says it marks the highest inflation rate since August 2024 when headline inflation stood at 4.4%.
Patrick Kelly, the head of price statistics, says the increase was driven mainly by massive fuel price hikes.
He says the fuel index increased by 18.2% from March, marking the biggest monthly rise since the current CPI system began in 2008.
Fuel prices drive biggest monthly spike since 2008, with diesel motorists hardest hit
"Petrol prices were up by 15.2% and diesel by 35.4%. The price for inland 93-octane petrol rose from R20,19 per litre in March to R23,25 per litre in April. This is the fifth-largest increase for this grade in 50 years, and the biggest this century. Motorists using diesel felt the most pain. The average price for a litre of diesel jumped from R21,28 in March to R28,80 in April.
"The passenger transport services index climbed by 3.1% between March and April, the largest monthly rise since July 2022. Following a 14.3% hike in March, the price of an air ticket jumped by a further 24.5%. This is the largest monthly increase in airfares since March 2008, when ticket prices rose by 32.4%.
Kelly says the passenger transport index also climbed by 3.1% between March and April - the largest monthly increase since July 2022.
Food inflation eases for third month despite broader cost pressures
Despite the fuel shock, he says food inflation eased for a third consecutive month, dropping from 3.6% to 2.9%.
"Six of the 11 food & NAB categories recorded lower annual rates. Meat registered the largest decline, easing from 11.6% in March to 9.4% in April. Beef mince inflation slowed from 22.2% to 15.3% and stewing beef from 22.6% to 8.7%. The rate for pork moderated from 19.5% to 17.7%.
"The cereal products category recorded its third consecutive month of deflation. Five of the 19 items in the category are cheaper than a year ago. These include white rice, maize meal, porridge, basmati rice and bread flour.
"Milk, other dairy products and eggs recorded its first annual increase since May 2025. The rate was 0.1%, up from March’s -0.5%. Powdered milk and eggs continue to occupy deflationary territory, at -3.4% and -5.8% respectively."
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