These things have become more expensive in South Africa

Annual consumer inflation dipped to 7,6% in August from 7,8% in July. The monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0.2%, the lowest reading since January 2022 when it was also 0.2%.

Fuel prices decreased by 3.8% between July and August, with petrol falling by 5% and diesel by 0.9%. This pushed the annual rate for fuel down to 43.2% from 56,2% in July. The welcome decrease in the cost of fuel had an impact on the overall transport index, which declined by 1% between July and August.

In contrast to fuel, food inflation continued upwards. The food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) index increased by 11.3% in the twelve months to August, higher than the reading of 9.7% in July. Annual food and NAB inflation has climbed significantly from the recent low of 6% in April this year and has remained above 5% since October 2020.

Nine of the eleven food and NAB categories recorded an annual inflation rate above 8% in August.

Bread & cereals registered an increase of 3.1% between July and August, pushing the annual rate from 13.7% to 17.8%. Maize meal increased by 4.8% from July, taking the annual rate to 29.1%. Brown bread registered a monthly rise of 2.2% and cake flour 3,9%.

Annual meat inflation eased slightly from 9.4% in July to 9.2% in August, with a monthly increase of 0.7%. Annual meat inflation has remained above 8% since May 2021.

Prices for milk, eggs & cheese increased by 2.1% between July and August. Products with higher than average monthly increases include cheddar cheese (3.1%), low fat milk (2.9%) and full cream milk (2.6%).

Oils & fats hit another annual high – 37.6% in August, up from 36.2% in July. The monthly rate, however, has slowed from its peak of 10.1% in May this year to 1.1% in August.

Hot beverage prices steamed to their highest annual rate in 64 months at 11.8% (compared with 12,1% in April 2017), stirred up by monthly increases in rooibos tea (7.6%) and instant coffee (3.9%).

Household cleaning products (detergents) recorded significant price increases. Washing powder is 26.2% more expensive than a year ago. Laundry soap will set you back an additional 33.9% compared with August last year, and the price of dishwashing liquid has climbed by 13.6% over the same period. Overall, the price index for cleaning and maintenance products increased by 23.4% over the past 12 months.

The charts below list the products that recorded the largest annual and monthly price increases in August.

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