South Africa annual inflation rate rose to 7.1% in March, up from 7% in the previous month and above market forecasts of 6.9%, driven mainly by rising food prices. Core inflation stood at 5.2%, a six-year high, and consumer prices rose 1% in March, the largest increase in eight months and above market expectations of a 0.9% increase. These numbers are still above the upper limit of the central bank’s target range of 3%-6%.