Annual producer inflation accelerated to 2.3 in March from 1.8 the previous month, driven mainly by food products, beverages and tobacco products as well as the furniture sector.
The producer price index PPI increased by 1.1 month-on-month in March, Stats SA said in its latest report. The main contributors to the monthly inflation rate were coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products, as well as food, beverages and tobacco products.
Economists had forecast the year-on-year number to range between 1.7 and 2 for March.
