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Inflation edges up to 4.5% in September on fuel costs

Published

Statistics SA said annual consumer inflation rose from 4.4% in August, below the 4.7% analysts expected. Transport and housing and utilities costs drove the rise, while core inflation eased to 4%.

Transport inflation was 10.8% and added 1.5 percentage points to the headline rate. Housing and utilities inflation was 5.2% and added 1.3 percentage points. Insurance and financial services inflation was 5.4%. Prices rose 0.4% from August to September.

The fuel price index jumped 6.2% between August and September and is up 27.9% on a year ago. Diesel prices are up 46% and petrol prices are up 25% over the year. Statistics SA said: "The rise in fuel prices is currently a key driver of transport inflation."

Passenger transport inflation was 12.3%. Airfares rose 18.6%, long-distance bus fares 14.1% and minibus taxi fares 13.8%. Electricity tariffs rose 7.9% and water tariffs 7.4%.

Goods inflation rose to 4.1% from 3.3%. Services inflation eased to 4.9% from 5.1%. Food inflation rose to 1.2% from 1.1% in August. The Western Cape had the highest provincial rate at 5.5%.

Key facts

Who
Statistics SA (official statistics agency publishing the inflation data); South African Reserve Bank (central bank with a 3% inflation target and 1 percentage point tolerance band)
What
Statistics SA data shows annual CPI inflation edged up to 4.5% in September, driven mainly by transport (fuel) and housing and utilities costs. Core inflation eased to 4%, and food inflation rose to 1.2%.
When
21 October 2026
Where
South Africa, Limpopo, Western Cape
Status
Reported

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