Cost of Living Increases in South Africa

Economists and analysts are warning South Africans to tighten their belts. Below are some ideas of what that means:

Electricity - 58% increase in past two years
Petrol (gas) - 36% increase in past two years. Currently ZAR8.09/litre (approx Cdn$1.16)
Bread - 24% increase in the past year (61% increase in the past three years)
Toilet paper - 10% increase in past year (over 100% increase in past three years)
Coke - 17-18% increase in past year (over 30% in past two years)
Coffee - 30% increase in past two years
Municipal revenues have increased 72.2% in the past two years underlining a significant increase in the cost of basic services
Property taxes - 32% in the past two years
Medical costs - increase of 18% in past two years
School and University fees - averaging a 10% increase per year

Nkaniso Hlongwa, an economist at the Bureau of Economic Research at Stellenbosch noted that rising world oil and food prices and the weakening exchange rate of the Rand could lead to a faster increase in consumer prices. The Rand's strengthening this past year he said, 'was one of the factors that helped to keep inflation down last year, as it made imported goods cheaper."
                                            From the Sunday Times - 12 February, 2011