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Graphic depicting inflation.
There’s good news for consumers as inflation eased from 3.5% in January to 3% in February.
That is according to Statistics South Africa’s latest data.
It shows that contributions to the 3% annual consumer price inflation rate came from housing and utilities, food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as insurance and financial services.
The latest print brings the inflation rate in line with the South African Reserve Bank’s 3% inflation target.
Stats SA’s Patrick Kelly has attributed the lower inflation rate to delayed medical aid rates.
“This February’s monthly print was lower than the average for the month, and we attribute this to three main factors. First, there was a delay in the implementation of new monthly medical aid rates. Most medical aids increase prices at the beginning of each year and are surveyed by Stats SA in February.”
“This results in higher than average monthly rates … in February 2026. However, not all medical aids had adjusted their contributions. This delay resulted in a lower monthly change in the CPI that might have otherwise been the case”, Kelly adds.
#SAInflation || Inflation eases further in Feb 2026. South African annual consumer price inflation cooled to 3,0% in February 2026 from 3,5% in January 2026.
Listen here for more: #StatsSA #KnowYourStatsZA #CPI #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/U0K0yZH2Y4
— Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) (@StatsSA) March 18, 2026
