Johannesburg - The headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual inflation rate was at 5.9% year-on-year in October, in line with market expectations and unchanged from September, data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) showed on Wednesday.
On a month-on-month basis CPI was at 0.2%, also matching analysts' forecasts, from 0.0% in September.
"This rate was the same as the corresponding annual rate of 5.9% in September 2014. On average, prices increased by 0.2% between September 2014 and October 2014," Stats SA said.
In July CPI was 6.3%.
Stats SA said the food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 0.2% between September 2014 and October 2014.
"The annual rate decreased to 7.8% in October 2014 from 8.5% in September 2014," Stats SA said.
In the food and non-alcoholic beverages index, fruit, other food, meat, and cold beverages increased.
Oils and fats, hot beverages, vegetables, fish, bread and cereals, sugar, sweets and desserts, and milk, eggs and cheese decreased.
The alcoholic beverages index increased by 1.9% between September 2014 and October 2014, while the annual rate increased to 6.3% in October 2014 from 5.3% in September 2014.
"The transport index increased by 0.3% between September 2014 and October 2014. The annual rate increased to 4.8% in October 2014 from 4.2% in September 2014," Stats SA said.
Electricity, gas &water supply showed largest rise: 12,5%, mining&quarrying down 1,3% #StatsSA http://t.co/0GRvZDZXPW pic.twitter.com/3ZoZDOHH9w
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) November 19, 2014