Bargaining Benchmarks is a quarterly report for role players in collective bargaining in South Africa. The report provides negotiators with a set of benchmarks to help them enter bargaining processes as informed role players

Key highlights from the latest issue, Bargaining Benchmarks | March 2025:

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 3% in December 2024, with a higher rate of 4% for the very-low expenditure group.
• Food price inflation stood at 1.7%, while transport prices decreased by -2%.
• The Producer Price Index (PPI) fell to 3.1% in 2024.
• The unemployment rate declined to 31.9% in Q4 2024.
• The finance sector led job gains (+232,000), while community and social services recorded the largest losses (-63,000).
• GDP grew by 0.6% in Q4 2024, with agriculture making the largest contribution.
• The cost of the Household Food Basket rose to R5,383 in December 2024.
• The overall median wage increase was 7% in Q4 2024, with agriculture recording the highest increase at 8%.