South Africa’s core consumer price index (CPI) inflation eased slightly in September 2026, slipping to 4.0% year-over-year from 4.1% in August 2026, according to data updated on 21 October 2026. The figure compares the change in prices in September 2026 with the same month a year earlier, while the previous reading reflected August 2026 versus August 2025.
The marginal decline in the core CPI — which excludes more volatile price components — suggests underlying inflation pressures remained contained heading into the final quarter of the year. The back-to-back year-over-year comparisons indicate that, while price growth is still present, it is moderating on a core basis.
