Figure 1: PPI headline index numbers and year-on-year rate of change

The following producer price inflation (PPI) statistics were published on 28 April by StatsSA, reflecting the inflationary pressures being felt throughout the world.

Final manufactured goods

Annual producer price inflation increased to 11,9% in March 2022, from 10,5% in February 2022. The main contributors were:

• Coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products increased by 26,8% year-on-year and contributed 6,4 percentage points.
• Food products, beverages and tobacco products increased by 7,6% year-on-year and contributed 2,0 percentage points.
• Metals, machinery, equipment and computing equipment increased by 13,0% year-on-year and contributed 1,9 percentage points.

The month-on-month PPI increased by 2,5%.  The main contributors were:

• Coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products, which increased by 6,2% month-on-month and contributed 1,6 percentage points; 
• Food products, beverages and tobacco products, which increased by 2,6% month-on-month and contributed 0,7 of a percentage point.

Intermediate manufactured goods

• Annual: 18,6% in March 2022, compared with 19,3% in February 2022. Basic and fabricated metals contributed 10,0 percentage points; chemicals, rubber and plastic products contributed 7,6 percentage points; and sawmilling and wood contributed 1,6 percentage points.
• Month-on-month: increased by 0,4%. Basic and fabricated metals contributed 0,7 of a percentage point, and sawmilling and wood contributed 0,4 of a percentage point.

Electricity and water

• Annual: 13.8% in March 2022, compared with 12.9% in February 2022. Electricity contributed 12,6 percentage points and water contributed 0,9 of a percentage point.
• Month-on-month: decreased by 0.3%. Electricity contributed -0,3 of a percentage point to the monthly rate.

Mining

• Annual: 7,7% in March 2022, compared with 6,4% in February 2022. Coal and gas contributed 6,1 percentage points, and non-ferrous metal ores contributed 1,2 percentage points.
• Month-on-month: increased by 4,3%. Non-ferrous metal ores contributed 2,6 percentage points, gold and other metal ores contributed 1,2 percentage points, and coal and gas contributed 1,1 percentage points.​

Agriculture Forestry and Fishing

• Annual: 14,9% in March 2022, compared with 8,0% in February 2022. Agriculture contributed 14,0 percentage points, fishing contributed 0,5 of a percentage point, and forestry contributed 0,4 of a percentage point.
• Month-on-month: increased by 3,9%. The main contributor to the monthly rate was agriculture at 3,8 percentage points.