Monthly Drop

February 2026

3%
Headline CPI · ↓ from 3.5%

I’ll take the win where I can find it: headline CPI cooled to 3% in February 2026 from 3.5%. Lovely for the economists, sure, but your trolley doesn’t shop the headline. It shops where beef steak is still up 28.6%, stewing beef is up 26.93% and beef mince is up 23.96%.

That’s the real story for me. The braai staples are still running hot, with boerewors at 19.64% and sausages at 19.4%, while electricity sits at 10.4% and health insurance at 6.52%. So yes, inflation cooled — just not evenly, and definitely not where it hurts most.

There is relief if you know where to look. Seasonal fruit is down -22.84%, air fryers are down -17.23%, tablets are down -16.68%, car rental is down -15.27% and cellphones are down -15.04%. Transport at -2% tells a similar story: some parts of the basket are finally behaving themselves.

So February is one of those classic South African mixed bags: a softer headline, a cheaper tank for some, and a meat bill that still lands like a tackle. I’m not panicking, but I’m also not calling this a clean victory. 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 +28.6%
🥩 Stewing Beef +26.93%
🥩 Beef mince - fresh +23.96%
🥘 Boerewors +19.64%
🥩 Sausages (beef, pork, mutton) +19.4%

❄️ Biggest Fallers

🍎 Seasonal fruit -22.84%
📦 Air fryers -17.23%
📱 Tablets -16.68%
🏠 Car rental -15.27%
📱 Cellphone (instrument) -15.04%

By Division

13 Categories
Alcohol & Tobacco
Alcohol & Tobacco at 5% is still running hot, which means the little treats are not so little any more.
+5%
Housing & Utilities
Housing & Utilities at 4.8% keeps the monthly basics under pressure, with electricity doing its bit at 10.4%.
+4.8%
Education
Education at 4.5% is the usual annual sting — predictable, but painful all the same.
+4.5%
Insurance & Financial
Insurance & Financial at 4.5% is debit-order inflation: not dramatic on paper, very real in your bank app.
+4.5%
Health
Health at 4.4% matters because health insurance alone jumped 6.52% YoY. Medical costs don’t exactly do specials.
+4.4%
Restaurants & Accommodation
Restaurants & Accommodation at 3.8% says going out still costs more, even if it isn’t the worst offender this month.
+3.8%
Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 3.7% sounds manageable until you look at meat: 28.6%, 26.93% and 23.96% for the big beef lines.
+3.7%
Personal Care & Misc
Personal Care & Misc at 2.8% is calmer, but it’s still inflation and not some consumer miracle.
+2.8%
Recreation & Culture
Recreation & Culture at 2.4% is relatively civilised. Frankly, that counts as good behaviour in this basket.
+2.4%
Clothing & Footwear
Clothing & Footwear at 1.2% is one of the softer categories, so at least the wardrobe isn’t starting fights.
+1.2%
Info & Communication
Info & Communication at 0.5% is basically flat by South African standards, with tablets down -16.68% and cellphones down -15.04%.
+0.5%
Furnishings & Household
Furnishings & Household at 0.3% is calm overall, with air fryers down -17.23% and microwaves down -11.07% helping the mood.
+0.3%
Transport
Transport at -2% is proper relief, with petrol down -10.23% and diesel down -9.7% YoY. I won’t overthink a rare win.
-2%