Consumer Inflation Unchanged At 3.2 In February

Annual consumer inflation was unchanged at 3.2 in February at 3.2, with increases registered in housing and utilities, food and alcoholic beverages and restaurants and accommodation offset by decreases in the services sector, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

On a monthly basis, inflation accelerated to 0.9 in February compared with 0.3 in January.

Housing and utilities inflation came in at 4.4, while that for food and alcoholic beverages was at 2.8 and restaurants and accommodation services at 4.6, according to Statistics South Africa.

Durable goods inflation remained 0.8 on an annual basis and that for semi-durable goods inflation came in at 1.2.

Core inflation which excludes food, non-alcoholic beverages, fuel and energy prices, eased to 3.4 year-on-year in February, from 3.5 in January.