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South Africa’s consumer price index (CPI) rose slightly from 2.7% in March to 2.8% in April 2025. The main contributors to the uptick were housing and utilities, food, beverages, tobacco, and restaurant and accommodation services.
The rise in food prices was “mainly due to higher meat prices, particularly for beef products such as stewing beef, mince, and steak,” according to Statistics South Africa.
Over the past year, the prices of several everyday items have increased significantly. A kilogram of apples is up 22.4%, rising from R22.46 in April 2024 to R27.48 in April 2025. Instant coffee increased by almost 18%, from R61.99 for 250g to R73.09. Other hot beverages also saw price hikes: Ceylon tea rose by 13.6%, while rooibos tea was up 6.9%.
Not all prices rose, however. A six-pack of eggs, for example, is now 5.3% cheaper than a year ago, down from R25.25 to R23.92.