South Africa’s producer price index (PPI) increased by 7% in April, a slight decrease from the 7,1% increase recorded in March, Statistics South Africa announced on Thursday.
The PPI for final manufactured goods, which impacts on the consumer price index and thus inflation, increased by 0,8% between March and April.
The main contributors to the annualised 7% increase were food products, beverages and tobacco products (3,2 percentage points), metals, machinery, equipment and computing equipment (one percentage point) and transport equipment (0,8 percentage points).
The main contributor to the monthly increase of 0,8% was coke, petroleum, rubber and plastic products (0,7 percentage points).
The annual percentage change in the PPI for intermediate manufactured goods (7,1%), electricity and water (12,3%), mining (10,3%) all accelerated from the previous month, with agriculture, forestry and fishing showing a slower increase of 16,9% in April 2016, from 20,9% in March.