South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation remained unchanged at 3.2% in February 2025, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
Stats SA reports on latest consumer price index as of February 2025
This follows a similar rate recorded in January. The monthly consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.9% during February, driven by rising costs in food, beverages, tobacco, communication, and recreation.
Despite the stability in overall inflation, certain categories saw price increases while others eased. Inflation slowed for personal care products, restaurants, household goods, transport, and health services.
However, the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose at an annual rate of 2.8%, up from 2.3% in January.
The CPI measures the average change in the price of goods and services purchased by households over time.
It reflects how much consumers pay for everyday necessities, making it a key indicator of cost-of-living trends.
A stable inflation rate suggests price increases are under control, but rising costs in essential categories still impact household budgets.
Why you are paying more for food and medical aid in 2025
Food prices have continued to rise, with fruits, nuts, vegetables, seafood, meat, cereals, and hot beverages recording higher inflation rates. Notably, maize meal prices reached a 17-month high, while samp prices hit a 19-month high due to inflationary pressures in farming and food production.
Meat prices, however, remained stable in February, showing no change from January. In contrast, hot beverage inflation rose sharply, reaching 14.6% in February, up from 13.7% in January.
Medical expenses have also increased in 2025. According to Stats SA’s annual survey on medical and health services, medical aid premiums rose by 10.5%, slightly up from 10.3% in 2024.
Health service costs, including consultations and treatments, saw a 6.1% increase, compared to a 5% rise in 2024.
The rise in medical costs often indicates higher operational expenses in the healthcare sector and adjustments by medical aid providers.
These increases mean that South Africans will need to allocate more of their budgets toward medical coverage and healthcare services in 2025.
While inflation remains within the South African Reserve Bank’s target range, rising costs in essential categories continue to affect household spending.