The painful rise in fuel prices this week follows a long series of increases over the years. Historical data shows when the country faced its biggest price shocks, and how recent increases compare. Tracking the petrol price over time Figure 1 shows how the price of inland 93-octane petrol has risen since 1976, drawing on data   read more »

Several energy sources drive our economy. A recent report on the electricity, gas & water supply industry provides insight into the structure of electricity supply and use.   Where does our electricity come from? Coal continues to be the primary source of fuel, driving 83% of local electricity generation in 2024 (see Figure 1 below). South   read more »

The education component in the CPI is updated once a year in March. Tuition fees increased by 5,4% in 2026, higher than the 4,5% rise recorded in 2025. Private secondary schools recorded the sharpest rise, climbing by 7,5%. Explore education inflation, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. DownloadStatsBiz – April   read more »

Stats SA’s publication schedule was quieter in April, with 20 statistical releases published in the month. The latest economic figures cover the month of February. On the upside Most indicators were positive year-on-year. Mining; construction (buildings completed as reported by large municipalities); retail trade sales; motor trade sales; tourist accommodation; restaurants, catering & fast-food; and   read more »

The cost of living rose by 3,1% in the 12 months to March, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI). This is slightly up from 3,0% recorded in February. Prices increased on average by 0,6% in March 2026 compared with February 2026. Six of the 13 categories in the CPI basket recorded higher annual rates, including restaurants   read more »

South Africa will mark 32 years of freedom on 27 April this year, commemorating the first democratic elections held on the same day and month in 1994. For the first time, millions of South Africans of all races were able to vote, marking the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new political era   read more »

The countdown to South Africa’s 2026 local government elections has begun. With the municipal council term in South Africa expiring on 1 November 2026, the preparations for the next general elections are underway. On 10 March 2026, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that voter registration for the 2026 local government elections will take place   read more »

South African tourism had a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummeting visitor numbers led to job losses across the sector. Recovery has been slow, but recent data show a positive trend. In 2019, an estimated 777686 individuals were directly employed by the tourism sector, declining sharply to 456311 individuals in 2020 as the pandemic   read more »

Stats SA had a busy month in March, publishing 35 statistical releases. Key economic outputs include monthly business cycle indicators for January, gross domestic product (GDP) estimates for the fourth quarter of 2025 and fresh data on tourism from two separate sources. January was a mixed bag Mining; retail trade sales; motor trade sales; tourist   read more »

Multidimensional child poverty refers to children experiencing multiple and overlapping deprivations simultaneously across key aspects of well‑being, not only income. These deprivations affect their development, survival and future opportunities. A recent report by Stats SA and UNICEF, Child Poverty in South Africa: Assessing Changes in Multidimensional Poverty using the MODA Approach (2015–2023), examines trends in   read more »