By Rorisang Modiba
- Stats SA released data on Wednesday showing inflation fell to 3.5% in November from 3.6%, the second slowdown in 2025.
- The transport, recreation and communication sectors showed the biggest price drops. Food, restaurant accommodation and alcoholic beverages recorded higher inflation in November.
Statistics South Africa released consumer price inflation data on Wednesday morning.
Consumer prices rose 3.5% in November compared to the same month in the previous year. The November inflation reading marked a drop from October when the rate stood at 3.6%.
This represents the second time inflation has slowed down this year. The first slowdown in 2025 occurred earlier in March.
Patrick Kelly is Stats SA’s chief director for price statistics. According to Kelly, price pressures eased across several sectors last month.
The statistics agency tracks 13 different product categories to calculate the overall inflation rate. Five of the 13 categories showed cooling inflation in the latest November data.
Transport costs recorded the biggest slowdown in price growth last month. The category covering recreation, sports and culture also showed significant drops in November.
Information and communication was the third category where consumer costs fell. These three sectors drove the overall cooling trend seen in the data.
Four other categories showed no change between October and November. Their inflation rates remained flat with no movement up or down.
But three categories pushed in the opposite direction. Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded higher inflation compared to the previous month.
Restaurants and accommodation services also showed increased price growth in November. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products completed the list of categories with rising inflation last month.
Pictured above: Inflation.
Image source: Generated by ChatGPT.
