JOHANNESBURG, June 17 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's annual consumer inflation rose to 4.5 percent in May from 4 percent in April, driven mainly by higher fuel prices, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said Wednesday.
The official statistics agency said in a report that the May reading was the highest since July 2024, when consumer inflation stood at 4.6 percent. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.7 percent month on month in May.
"The inflation surge was largely driven by increases in fuel prices," Stats SA said.
According to the agency, the fuel index recorded a second large monthly increase, jumping by 14.3 percent in May to reach an annual rise of 28.7 percent. Over the past 12 months, petrol prices increased by 24.8 percent, while diesel prices surged by 53.8 percent.
The agency said the impact of higher fuel prices on overall inflation could be seen in the CPI excluding fuel, which remained unchanged at 3.7 percent year on year in May. The index rose by 0.2 percent month on month.
Meanwhile, inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages continued to ease, falling to 1.9 percent in May from 2.9 percent in April. This was down from a peak of 5.7 percent recorded in July 2025.
Stats SA said annual deflation for cereal products deepened to minus 1.4 percent in May from minus 1.2 percent in April. Meat inflation also slowed to 7.3 percent from 9.4 percent in April, while prices for fruits and nuts, as well as vegetables, remained lower than a year earlier.
However, inflation for some food and beverage categories increased. The annual rate for milk, other dairy products and eggs rose to 0.9 percent from 0.1 percent in April, while inflation for non-alcoholic beverages increased to 4.9 percent from 4.6 percent. ■
