Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has updated its consumer price index (CPI) basket, incorporating 71 new products and removing 53 others to better reflect current South African shopping habits. The changes include additions like rosé wine, snuff, ready-made meals, and e-cigarette refills, while items like frozen potato chips and condensed milk were removed. The basket also reflects the impact of load shedding with the inclusion of gas cylinders and candles. Other notable changes include the expansion of municipal services, the addition of e-hailing and school transport services, and the inclusion of streaming services, modems, and other tech products.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has made significant changes to the basket of goods and services used to measure consumer inflation. In a periodic review, the agency added 71 new products and removed 53 others, aiming to better reflect the nation's evolving shopping habits . Among the additions are rosé wine, snuff, ready-made meals, and e-cigarette refills.
These items were introduced alongside gas in cylinders and candles, potentially reflecting the influence of load shedding on consumer choices. Conversely, products like frozen potato chips, condensed milk, and ground coffee/coffee beans were removed from the basket. The changes also extend to various categories within the basket. The weight of housing was slightly lowered to 24.1% from 24.5%, while municipal services were expanded to include refuse collection and sewage removal. E-hailing services and school transport services were added to the transport category, while driving licences and post office box rentals were removed. Technology saw the inclusion of streaming services, modems, routers, USB drives, external hard drives, power banks, and charging cables. The weight for telecommunications services, encompassing cellphone data and calls, and internet services, increased due to rising consumer spending in these areas. Insurance decreased to 8.4% from 9.9%, primarily attributed to a softer weight for health insurance (medical aid). Transport declined to 13.9% from 14.4%, mainly driven by a reduction in the weight for fuel. However, the weight for passenger transport services increased. Other notable changes include the addition of Lego to the recreation category and the removal of teddy bears, digital cameras, musical instruments, and magazines. The new reference period for the CPI will be December 2024, with the changes taking effect in January's inflation release on 19 February.
Inflation Consumer Price Index Statistics South Africa Shopping Habits Load Shedding Telecommunications Transport Housing Technology
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Africa: Death of Miners in South Africa a Government FailureRights groups are criticizing South Africa's government for failing to prevent what they call a 'massacre' at the Buffelsfontein mine, after security officials cut off food, water, and other essential supplies to miners trapped underground and delayed a rescue operation.
Read more »
STAT ATTACK: Springboks’ memorable 2024 campaign by numbersAll the trivia, stats and facts behind the Springboks' unparalleled success throughout the 2024 calendar year.
Read more »
Here are the LATEST Western Cape dam level statsThe latest dam level stats for the Western Cape show that cumulatively the six major dams in the province have dipped below 90% of capacity.
Read more »
Here are the UPDATED Western Cape dam level statsThe latest dam level stats for the Western Cape show that cumulatively the six major dams in the province have dipped below 90% of capacity.
Read more »
Parliament Committee to Continue Investigating SARU and SAFA FinancesSouth Africa's Parliament sport, arts and culture committee vows to continue investigating the financial practices and management of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Read more »
Mzansi Reacts To Chidimma Adetshina's AppearanceSouth African social media users have expressed shock and surprise at the appearance of former Miss South Africa, Chidimma Adetshina, claiming she looks significantly different from her time in the country. While some remarked on her transformation, others criticized South Africans for their negativity and obsession with fueling hate. This sparked a debate on social media, with Nigerians defending Chidimma and condemning the South African response.
Read more »