SA inflation eases slightly in January
Inflation eased to 5.7% in January, down from 5.9% the month prior — which was a hair’s breadth away from the
ceiling of the South African Reserve Bank’s target range of 3% to 6%, it was announced on Wednesday.
According to Statistics South Africa, the main contributors to the 5.7% annual inflation rate were food and nonalcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, transport and miscellaneous goods and services.
The 5.9% annual increase in December was the highest since March 2017, when the rate was 6.1%. The January
slowdown in inflation was helped by lower fuel prices.
South Africa’s inflation numbers come as advanced economies post record figures, which have served as further
proof that elevated prices are a stubborn feature of the recovery from the Covid-induced economic slump…
Elevated inflation, which central banks have said will be transitory, is the result of Covid-related supply bottlenecks.
“The South African Reserve Bank’s target range of 3% to 6%” is a demonstration of which of the following
costs of inflation?
a) Distribution costs
b) Economic costs
c) Non-economic costs
d) Social and political effects
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