Monthly Drop

January 2026

3.5%
Headline CPI · ↓ from 3.6%

January gave us a softer headline, with CPI at 3.5% from 3.6%. Nice on paper, sure, but your trolley doesn’t shop on headlines. It shops where beef steak is up 31.18%, stewing beef is up 30.27%, and beef mince is up 28.02%.

The meat pressure is obvious, and boerewors at 21.53% plus sausages at 22.18% keep the braai tax very much alive. Even pumpkin is still 22.74% higher YoY, despite that -7.5% monthly pullback. So yes, a few monthly dips are showing up, but the annual pain is still doing laps.

There is relief if you know where to look. Tablets are down -20.25%, seasonal fruit is down -19.7%, and air fryers are down -17.47%. Add cabbages at -15.65% and cellphones at -14.18%, and you can feel that some categories are actually giving consumers a breather.

So the story this month is mixed: a calmer headline, hot meat prices, and pockets of proper deflation in tech and produce. If you feel confused, that’s fair — the basket is pulling in opposite directions. All data sourced from Stats SA (P0141). We just make it look lekker. Nothing here is financial advice — it’s grocery advice at best. E&OE.

🔥 Biggest Risers

🥩 Beef - Steak +31.18%
🥩 Stewing Beef +30.27%
🥩 Beef mince - fresh +28.02%
🎃 Pumpkin - fresh +22.74%
🥩 Sausages (beef, pork, mutton) +22.18%

❄️ Biggest Fallers

📱 Tablets -20.25%
🍎 Seasonal fruit -19.7%
📦 Air fryers -17.47%
🥬 Cabbages-fresh (green and red) -15.65%
📱 Cellphone (instrument) -14.18%

By Division

13 Categories
Insurance & Financial
Still the hottest lane at 6.9% — the invisible monthly debit orders are doing real damage.
+6.9%
Health
Health at 5% means wellness is expensive, whether you’re sick or just trying to stay fine.
+5%
Housing & Utilities
Housing and utilities at 4.8% keeps household basics firmly on the pricey side.
+4.8%
Alcohol & Tobacco
At 4.6%, this is another category where small purchases quietly add up fast.
+4.6%
Education
Education at 4.5% reminds us school costs don’t wait for your salary to catch up.
+4.5%
Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.3% fits the pressure we see in core braai items.
+4.3%
Restaurants & Accommodation
At 3.4%, going out costs more, even if it’s not the worst offender this month.
+3.4%
Personal Care & Misc
Personal care and misc at 3.1% is moderate, but still above a comfortable level.
+3.1%
Recreation & Culture
Recreation and culture at 2.4% is calmer, though not exactly cheap entertainment.
+2.4%
Clothing & Footwear
Clothing and footwear at 1.2% is one of the softer inflation zones for now.
+1.2%
Info & Communication
Info and communication at 0.4% is basically flat by comparison — one of the few bright spots.
+0.4%
Furnishings & Household
Furnishings and household at 0.1% is near standstill, which helps on big-ticket home buys.
+0.1%
Transport
Transport at -0.2% is in deflation territory — rare good news for commuters and travellers.
-0.2%