Money Desk
Meat drives South Africa’s food inflation as broader price pressures rise
Statistics South Africa reports that rising meat prices are the primary driver of food inflation as headline consumer prices climb to 4.5 percent.
Meat prices exerted significant upward pressure on food prices in South Africa from mid-2025 through mid-2026, driving much of the increase faced by households.
Consumer And Producer Inflation
South Africa’s headline Consumer Price Index rose to 4.5% year-on-year in September 2026, continuing its increase from the previous two months. Consumer prices also climbed 0.4% from August to September.
| Inflation measure | July 2026 | August 2026 | September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline Consumer Price Index, year-on-year | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| Consumer prices, month-on-month | — | — | 0.4% |
| Producer Price Index, year-on-year | — | 5.0% | 6.2% |
Producer inflation accelerated more sharply. South Africa’s Producer Price Index reached 6.2% year-on-year in September, up from 5.0% in August.
GDP Estimate Revised Higher
South Africa’s gross domestic product estimate for 2025 was revised upward by 5.3%. The revision raised the estimate from R7 642 billion to R8 044 billion.
Provincial Growth Rates Diverge
Provincial economic growth varied in 2025, with the Western Cape recording the highest rate at 1.4%. Gauteng grew by 1.1%, followed by Limpopo at 1.0%, while Mpumalanga recorded growth of 0.5%.
| Province | Economic growth in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Western Cape | 1.4% |
| Gauteng | 1.1% |
| Limpopo | 1.0% |
| Mpumalanga | 0.5% |
