Consumer Price Index (CPI) - P0141

Key figures as at January 2011

The headline CPI (for all urban areas) annual inflation rate in January 2011 was 3,7%.

This rate was 0,2 of a percentage point higher than the corresponding annual rate of 3,5% in December 2010. On average, prices increased by 0,4% between December 2010 and January 2011.

The food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 2,2% between December 2010 and January 2011. The annual rate increased to 3,1% in January 2011 from 1,5% in December 2010. The following components in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased: fruit (7,1%), oils and fats (4,9%), meat (4,0%), sugar, sweets and desserts (1,9%), vegetables (1,7%), other food (1,6%), cold beverages (1,5%), hot beverages (1,4%), fish (1,1%), bread and cereals (0,5%) and milk, eggs and cheese (0,5%).

The transport index increased by 0,5% between December 2010 and January 2011, mainly due to a 29c/l increase in the price of petrol. The annual rate increased to 2,5% in January 2011 from 1,6% in December 2010.

The restaurants and hotels index increased by 0,3% between December 2010 and January 2011. The annual rate decreased to 4,9% in January 2011 from 5,7% in December 2010.

The miscellaneous goods and services index increased by 0,4% between December 2010 and January 2011, mainly due to a 2,2% increase in bank charges. The annual rate decreased to 3,7% in January 2011 from 4,7% in December 2010.

The provinces with an annual inflation rate lower than or equal to headline inflation were Gauteng (3,7%), North West (3,6%), Limpopo (3,6%), Western Cape (3,5%), Mpumalanga (3,4%) and KwaZulu-Natal (2,9%). The provinces with an annual inflation rate higher than headline inflation were Free State (4,6%), Eastern Cape (4,3%) and Northern Cape (3,8%).

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