JOHANNESBURG, Oct 21 – South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rose to 4.5% in September from 4.4% in August, increasing less than expected despite higher global energy prices linked to supply constraints arising from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Statistics South Africa reported the figures on Wednesday, with monthly consumer inflation reaching 0.4% in September.
The increase in annual inflation comes as energy markets face continued disruption from geopolitical tensions, putting pressure on countries that depend on imported fuel to meet domestic demand.
South Africa imports most of its fuel, leaving its economy exposed to fluctuations in international energy prices. The country has faced additional uncertainty since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, which has contributed to concerns over global energy supply and pricing.
Higher fuel costs can feed into domestic inflation through transport, logistics and production expenses, potentially affecting prices across the wider economy.
Despite these pressures, the September inflation increase remained modest, with the annual rate rising by 0.1 percentage point from the previous month.
The latest figures highlight the competing influences on South African consumer prices, as external energy-market pressures persist while the pace of inflation remains below the level implied by some expectations.
