Inflation Expectations

Inflation expectations
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Inflation Expectations

To help carry out its inflation targeting mandate, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) commissioned the BER in 2001 to conduct a quarterly inflation expectations survey. Four social groups are covered in the survey, namely financial analysts, business people, trade union officials and households. The results of the Inflation Expectations Survey are provided in a quarterly report that is accompanied by an excel file containing the historic survey data. The inflation expectations for the current and next two years and forecast of various other economic variables (such as economic growth, the rand / dollar exchange rate and wage increases) of financial analysts, business people, trade union officials and households are available separately. Click here for information on the survey method.

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Inflation expectations, 2026-Q1

Date Uploaded: March 16 2026 09:00


In the first quarter of 2026 (the second survey after the inflation target changed to 3%), the average five-year inflation expectations of the three professional groups declined slightly to a record low of 3.6% (from 3.7% previously). Next-year expectations also declined marginally (0.1% pts) to 3.6%. In contrast, household inflation expectations reversed its downward trend; one-year expectations were measured at 5.4% (5.3% previously), while five-year expectations rose from 7.7% to 8.4%.