While the dismal economy has slammed cash-strapped South Africans hard, a number of products are actually cheaper to buy in 2017, according to a new Statistics South Africa report.
According to the research, the top item on this list is telecoms equipment, which is 8.6% cheaper than in January 2017.
This includes a R82 decrease in the average price of a cellular phone from R2,622 in January 2017 to R2,540 in August 2017.
According to the research, overall prices for telecommunications equipment have dropped by 36% since January 2014.
Fruit (8.4%), furniture (4.1%), and breads and cereals (4%) are also now cheaper in South Africa.
Postal and telecommunications services, recreational equipment, fuel (petrol and diesel), hotels, and appliances all saw price drops.
If you prefer 93 octane gasoline and reside inland, filling a 45-litre tank in August would have cost R577 versus R589 in January.
In August, gasoline was 1.7% cheaper than in January.
However, Stats SA cautioned that the year was not yet over.
Between August and September, fuel prices rose, and the most recent adjustment in October saw the price of 93 octane petrol climb by 25 cents, from R13,49 to R13,74 per litre.
The extent to which these adjustments will affect inflation will be fully apparent in October and November CPI data from Stats SA.
