The increase in South Africa’s consumer price index (CPI), which is used by the South African Reserve Bank for its inflation target, was 6.1% year-on-year in November, from 6.0% year-on-year in October, Statistics SA said on Wednesday.
The CPI for November was expected to edge up slightly to 6.2% year-on-year in November, according to a survey of leading economists by I-Net Bridge.
Forecasts among the 11 economists ranged from 6.1% to 6.4%.
CPI increased 0.3% month on month from 0.5% in October.
Statistics South Africa said the food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 0.5% between October 2011 and November 2011.
The annual rate increased to 10.7% in November 2011 from 10.6% in October 2011. The following components in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased: fruit (5.6%), meat (2.0%), bread and cereals (1.5%) and oils and fats (0.9%).
The following components decreased: vegetables (-4.3%), sugar, sweets and desserts (-0.9%), other food (-0.4%), hot beverages (-0.4%), milk, eggs and cheese (-0.2%) and cold beverages (-0.2%).
The Pretoria-based agency said the transport index had increased by 0.5% between October 2011 and November 2011, mainly due to a 23c/litre increase in the price of petrol. The annual rate increased to 6.9% in November 2011 from 6.7% in October 2011.
The recreation and culture indices increased by 0.9% between October 2011 and November 2011. This was mainly due to a 5.3% increase in the prices of books, newspapers and stationery. The annual rate increased to -0.6% in November 2011 from -1.3% in October 2011.
The provinces with an annual inflation rate lower than or equal to headline inflation were KwaZulu-Natal (6.1%), the Western Cape (6.0%) and Gauteng (5.8%).
The provinces with an annual inflation rate higher than headline inflation were Northern Cape (7.9%), Eastern Cape (7.4%), Free State (7.0%), Limpopo (6.6%), the North West (6.4%) and Mpumalanga (6.3%). — I-Net Bridge