By 
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s annual headline consumer price inflation climbed to 5.0% in June 2026, up from 4.5% in May, according to the latest figures released by Stats SA for all urban areas. Month-on-month, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.7%.
The sharpest upward strain came from the transport sector, where annual prices surged 12.7%, single-handedly adding 1.7 percentage points to the total inflation rate. Housing and utilities also remained a primary driver, growing by 5.5% annually and contributing 1.3 percentage points.
Meanwhile, insurance and financial services expanded by 5.9%, adding another 0.6 percentage points to the aggregate figure.
A closer look at the breakdown reveals growing price pressures across both tangible items and broader service sectors:
- Goods: Annual inflation for goods reached 4.8% in June, up from 4.4% in May.
- Services: The services sector saw an even steeper tick upward, rising to 5.2% compared to 4.7% the previous month.
With both goods and services picking up momentum midway through the year, accelerating transport expenses continue to pose a significant headache for consumers’ budgets and broader economic stability.
