/ 22 December 2004

November inflation figures released

Year-on-year consumer inflation less mortgage costs (CPIX) rose to 4,6% last month from 4,2% in October, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Wednesday.

It said in a statement that the main contributors to the latest figure included annual increases in the price indices for transport, housing, medical care and health expenses, education, food, fuel and power and household operations.

The headline inflation rate for November — the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the historical metropolitan area — was 3,7%. This was 1,3% higher than October’s figure of 2,4 percent.

But Stats SA said the annual food price (CPI for food) remained the same last month, at 1,9%.

”The increase was due to annual increases in the price of meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, nuts, sugar, fats and oils,” it said. — Sapa