South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rate increased to 4.5% in May 2026, driven largely by sharp increases in fuel prices, according to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa.
Stats SA reported that the fuel index recorded its second major monthly increase, rising by 14.3% during May and pushing the annual fuel inflation rate to 28.7%. The increase in fuel costs was the biggest contributor to the overall rise in consumer prices.
Over the past 12 months, petrol prices have increased by 24.8%, while diesel prices have surged by 53.8%, placing additional pressure on households, motorists and businesses already facing higher living costs.
Meanwhile, retail trade sales showed modest growth in April 2026, increasing by 1.3% year-on-year and 0.9% month-on-month. The figures suggest that consumer spending remained relatively resilient despite rising fuel costs and inflationary pressures, offering a positive sign for economic activity in the retail sector.
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