The increase in SA's consumer price index (CPI), which is used by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) for its inflation target, was 4.6% year on year in May from 4.2% year on year in April, Statistics SA said on Wednesday.
CPI was 0.5% month on month from 0.3% in April.
The CPI was expected to have ticked up to 4.3% year on year, according to a survey of leading economists by I-Net Bridge. Forecasts among the eight economists ranged from 4.3% to 4.5%.
Stats SA noted the food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 7.1% between April and May. The annual rate increased to 6.1% in May from 4.8% in April.
