Costs Decline

South Africa’s consumer inflation rate eased in March, in line with market expectations. According to Statistics South Africa, the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.7%—down from 3.2% in February—marking the first decline in five months. The main contributors to the annual inflation rate included housing and utilities, food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as restaurant and accommodation services. However, the most significant easing came from lower fuel prices. […]