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Annual consumer price inflation came in at 3.0% in December, up from 2.9% in November 2024.
Statistics South Africa said on the month, CPI increased by 0.1%.
Chief director for price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said inflation for food and non-alcholic beverages ticked up to 2.5% from 2.3% in November.
Annual price increases for bread and cereal products were steady at 3.7%, although prices dropped by 0.2% between November and December.
#ZAinflation || Consumer price inflation edged higher in December, rising to 3,0% from 2,9% in November.
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) January 22, 2025
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Kelly provides this overview of the cost of meat products over the period under review.
"Meat products are 0.4% lower that December, 2023. This is the lowest annual change for meat since May, 2019 when it was -0.9%. Despite annual deflation, meat prices increased month-on-month by 0.5%.
"IQF (individually quick frozen) chicken portions, the highest weighted meat item in the basket, increased by 2.2% month-on-month, and stewing beef, the second highest weighted item in the basket, increased by 2.7% month-on-month," Kelly said.
He said hot beverages remains the food and non-alcoholic beverages category with the highest annual increase, 13.5%, up from November's increase of 13.1%.
"Instant coffee was 16.1% more expensive in December 2024, compared with December 2023," he added.
Kelly said at the end of each year, StatsSA calculates the average inflation rate for the year, and in 2024, this was 4.4%, down from the average of 6% in 2023.
