In just one year the price of diesel has outpaced general CPI inflation by 12.5%.
It probably feels like yesterday that you could put a few hundred rand in your tank and actually see the needle move. But since the war in the Middle East erupted earlier this year and the Strait of Hormuz became a household name that nobody wants to hear, fuel costs have seemingly gone through the roof.
This has implications for all aspects of our lives, not just commuting, as transport costs have a direct impact on the price of almost all goods that we consume.
September saw South African petrol prices climb by R1.34 and diesel by up to R3.15. But how much have fuel prices changed in the past year? Or five for that matter? The numbers paint a sobering picture.
As at September 2026, a litre of 95 Unleaded costs R26.05 at the coast, but a year ago that same litre cost R20.72. That’s 25.7% in the space of one year, which is almost six times the most recent CPI (general inflation rate) figure of 4.3%. Going back a further four years shows fuel has increased by R8.43 since September 2021, when it cost R17.62 at the coast.
