Economists predict lower CPI

By Khanyisa Tabata
26 August 2009

Economists are expecting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure, the official measure of inflation in South Africa, to continue its downward trend when it is released later this week.

Statistics South Africa will release the data for July today.

Economists say there have been increases in municipal tariffs and they expect this to contribute to the CPI.

The CPI is an index of the prices of a representative of consumer goods and services.

The CPI thus represents the cost of the goods and services of a typical or average South African household.


Stats SA collects the price information each month mainly by sending questionnaires to about 3 600 retailers.

Some prices are collected directly by officials.

The bank therefore explained that the compilation of the CPI for each month takes some time and is published during the second half of the following month.

The Producer Price Index, the prices of goods leaving factories and mines, will be released on Thursday.

In June, the PPI dropped to 4.1 percent year-on-year.

This figure is expected to come in at between -4.0 and -4.7percent from June’s 4.1 percent.

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