Annual consumer price inflation in South Africa declined to 4,3% in July from 5,0% in June, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday.
The announcement was made in a post by StatsSA on 19 August 2026, accompanied by a graph showing the annual trend from 2015 to July 2026. According to the graph, inflation was recorded at 4,3% in July 2026, down from 5,0% in June 2026.
Speaking on the latest Consumer Price Index, Chief Director for Price Statistics Patrick Kelly said the monthly increase in the Consumer Price Index was 0,2 percent, down from 0,7 percent in June.
“The slowdown can be attributed to three main factors: Softer inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages, lower municipal tariff increases and a decline in fuel prices,” Kelly said.
StatsSA said food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation slowed to 0,9 percent in July, its lowest level since June 2010 when it was 0,7 percent. Within that category, annual meat inflation slowed to 1,5 percent from 5,1 percent in June.
The agency also reported that most tariff categories surveyed in the CPI recorded lower increases in 2026 compared with 2025. Electricity tariffs rose by 8,1 percent in 2026, down from a 10,4 percent increase last year. A similar pattern was recorded for water tariffs, which increased by 10,2 percent, compared with a 12,1 percent increase in 2025.
About The Author
