South Africa Inflation Rises to 3.1% in March

South Africa's annual consumer price inflation rose slightly to 3.1 percent in March from 3.0 percent in February, official data showed, as increases in housing costs and education fees offset declines in transport and some food categories. The figures, released by Statistics South Africa, reflect prices collected before sharp fuel price hikes in early April triggered by the Middle East conflict.

On a month-to-month basis, consumer prices increased by 0.6 percent in March, up from 0.4 percent the previous month. Key contributors to the annual rise included housing and utilities, which climbed 5.1 percent, food and nonalcoholic beverages at 3.6 percent, and insurance and financial services. Education costs stood out with a 5.4 percent annual increase, driven by a 7.5 percent jump in private school fees, while primary and secondary public education rose 2.8 percent. In contrast, transport prices fell 1.6 percent year on year, reflecting an 8.7 percent drop in fuel costs over the prior 12 months, though the pace of decline slowed.

The data does not yet capture the full impact of global energy market disruptions from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which led to the temporary...