South Africa’s core consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% month-over-month in September 2026, according to data updated on 21 October 2026, marking a modest rebound after a flat reading in August. The previous month’s core CPI was unchanged at 0.0% compared with July, indicating that underlying price pressures had temporarily stalled.
The September increase suggests a slight firming in underlying inflation momentum after that pause, as the latest “actual” figure reflects price changes from August to September, while the “previous” figure captured the change from July to August. Although the move is small, the shift from 0.0% to 0.2% month-over-month will be closely watched by markets and policymakers for any signs of building inflationary pressure beneath the headline data.
