2020.03.1808:36:00UTC+00South Africa Inflation Highest In 17 Months

South Africa's consumer price inflation rose to the highest level in fifteen months in February, figures from Statistics South Africa showed on Wednesday.

The consumer price index rose 4.6 percent year-on-year in February, following a 4.5 percent increase in January. Economists had expected to remain unchanged.

The latest inflation was the highest since November, when it was 5.2 percent.

The main contribution came from food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, transport, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 4.2 percent annually in February. Housing and utilities rose by 4.7 percent and those of transport and miscellaneous goods and services grew by 6.2 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

The core inflation, which excludes prices of non-alcoholic beverages, fuels and energy was 3.8 percent in February.

On a month-on-month basis, the consumer price index rose 1.0 percent in February.