Sharp jump in petrol, diesel, and transport costs pushes inflation to 4% despite easing food prices…..
South Africa’s annual inflation rate accelerated sharply to 4.0 percent in April 2026, reaching its highest level in nearly two years as soaring fuel prices drove up transportation and household costs across the economy.
Fresh data released by Statistics South Africa on Wednesday showed that inflation rose significantly from 3.1 percent recorded in March, reflecting mounting pressure from energy-related expenses despite continued moderation in food prices.
According to the statistics agency, the latest increase was driven primarily by a steep rise in fuel prices during the month of April.
“Consumer inflation jumped to 4.0% in April from 3.1% in March, driven mainly by sharp fuel price increases,” Statistics South Africa stated.
The agency noted that this represents the country’s highest inflation reading since August 2024, when headline inflation stood at 4.4 percent.
Fuel prices recorded one of the sharpest monthly increases in recent years, climbing by 18.2 percent in April, the largest monthly increase since South Africa’s current consumer price index framework was introduced in 2008.
Petrol prices rose by 15.2 percent during the month, while diesel prices surged by a massive 35.4 percent.
The sharp increase in energy costs quickly filtered through the broader economy, significantly raising transport expenses for households and businesses.
Data from Statistics South Africa showed that the passenger transport services index increased by 3.1 percent between March and April, marking the strongest monthly increase since July 2022.
Air travel costs also rose sharply during the period.
Airfare prices surged by 24.5 percent in April after already increasing by 14.3 percent in March, representing the steepest monthly rise in airline ticket prices since March 2008.
Healthcare-related costs also contributed to inflationary pressure.
Medical aid contributions increased by 1.8 percent month-on-month, pushing annual inflation in the health category to 8.3 percent.
Despite the broad rise in transport and service costs, easing food prices helped soften the overall inflation impact on consumers.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation declined for the third consecutive month, slowing to 2.9 percent in April from 3.6 percent in March.
Inflation in the meat category also moderated significantly.
Beef mince inflation slowed from 22.2 percent to 15.3 percent, while inflation for stewing beef dropped sharply from 22.6 percent to 8.7 percent.
The cereals category remained in deflation for the third consecutive month, with staple products such as maize meal, rice, bread flour, and porridge recording lower prices compared to the previous year.
Inflation for milk, dairy products, and eggs returned to positive territory at 0.1 percent after recording negative 0.5 percent in March, marking the category’s first annual increase since May 2025.
Economists say the easing in food prices has helped cushion South African consumers from the full impact of higher fuel and transport costs.
The latest inflation data is expected to influence expectations ahead of the South African Reserve Bank’s next monetary policy decision scheduled for May 28, 2026.
South Africa’s central bank targets inflation at 3 percent, with an allowable range of one percentage point above or below that target.
The Reserve Bank previously held interest rates steady during its January and March policy meetings amid signs that inflation pressures were gradually easing.
However, the latest rise in consumer prices may complicate future policy decisions as the country continues to battle weak economic growth and worsening unemployment.
South Africa’s labour market has also come under renewed pressure, with the country’s official unemployment rate rising to 32.7 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 31.4 percent in the previous quarter.
