South Africa’s (SA) consumer inflation rose slightly in September but remains well within the Reserve Bank’s target range of 3% to 6%.

Annual consumer inflation edged higher to 3.4% in September, from 3.3% in August.

The main contributors to the increase were housing and utilities, as well as food and non-alcoholic beverages.

On a month-on-month basis, consumer inflation went up by 0.2% in September.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation decreased to 4.5% from 5.2% previously.

But price changes in the meat, vegetables, fruits and hot beverages categories remain elevated.

The higher meat prices are due to the effects of factors like foot-and-mouth disease, which the livestock industry has been battling.

In the housing and utilities category, price changes in electricity, gas and other fuels, and water supply remain high.

While consumer inflation is within the Reserve Bank’s target range of 3 to 6%, it is moving further from the central bank’s preferred target of 3%.

–Reuters–