Johannesburg - Headline consumer inflation accelerated to 5.8% year-on-year in January from 5.4% in December, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.
On a month-on-month basis, CPI quickened to 0.7% compared with 0.3% in December.
Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a year-on-year rate of 5.7% and 0.6% month-on-month.
Core inflation, which excludes the prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages, petrol and energy, was unchanged at 5.3% year-on-year and 0.3% on a month-on-month basis.
On a month-on-month basis, CPI quickened to 0.7% compared with 0.3% in December.
Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a year-on-year rate of 5.7% and 0.6% month-on-month.
Core inflation, which excludes the prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages, petrol and energy, was unchanged at 5.3% year-on-year and 0.3% on a month-on-month basis.