Johannesburg - South Africa's headline consumer inflation slowed to 5.8% year-on-year in November, in line with market forecasts, from 5.9% in October, data from Statistics South Africa showed on Wednesday.
On a month-on-month basis prices were flat in November, also as expected, after edging up 0.2% the previous month.
Core inflation, which excludes the prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages, petrol and energy, edged higher to 5.8% from 5.7% year-on-year, and was at 0.2% on a month-on-month basis, from 0.3%.
On average prices were unchanged between October and November.
Stats SA said the annual rate decreased to 7.6% in November 2014 from 7.8% in October 2014.
In the food and non-alcoholic beverages index fruit, meat, hot beverages, fish, milk, eggs and cheese, oils and fats and other food increased.
Cold beverages and vegetables decreased.
Stats SA said the transport index decreased by 1.2% between October and November, mainly due to a 45c/litre decrease in the petrol price.
"The annual rate decreased to 4.2% in November 2014 from 4.8% in October 2014," it said.