May’s CPI remains unchanged at 2.8%

FILE | A woman does her shopping at a grocery store in South Africa.

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The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has remained unchanged at 2.8% in May following a slight uptick in April, up from 2.7% recorded in March.

Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) has released the data showing that the only category contributing to the 0.2% monthly increase to the CPI was food and non-alcoholic beverages.

StatSA’s Chief Director for Price Statistics, Patrick Kelly, says the monthly change to the food and non-alcoholic beverages index was 1.1% following a 1.3% rise in April.

Kelly says, “The annual rate for the category increased to 4.8% from 4% in April, the highest point since March 2024 when the rate was 5.1%. Let’s dive deeper into this meat, and specifically, beef is a key factor behind the rise in food inflation.”

#ZAInflation || Inflation holds steady as food prices rise. Consumer price inflation was 2,8% in May, unchanged from 2,8% in April. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0,2% between April and May.

🔗 https://t.co/HzLf63HIyF #StatsSA #ZACPI #GovZAupdates pic.twitter.com/W8zGf67PFi

— Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) (@StatsSA) June 18, 2025