Inflation eases for first time in five months
Chief director for price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the drop was mostly thanks to lower fuel prices during the period under review.
Picture: Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Inflation has eased for the first time in five months, coming down to 2.7% in March.
That figure was 3.2% the previous month.
Annual consumer price inflation was 2,7% in March, down from 3,2% in February.
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Stats SA released the latest inflation reading on Wednesday.
Chief director for price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the drop was mostly thanks to lower fuel prices during the period under review.
"In March, the fuel index softened by 0.4%, taking the annual rate from a -3.6% to -8.8%."
Kelly said that lower-than-expected increases in education fees, surveyed once a year in March, also helped inflation to change at a slower rate.
"The price index for education increased by 4.5%, lower than the 6.4% rise in 2024. School fees increased by 5% while tertiary institutions charged 3.7% more in 2025."