inflation in south africa edged higher in march with food prices recording the highest yearonyear jump in more than a decade official figures showed wednesday inflation for food and nonalcoholic beverages continued to accelerate and was up 14 percent on march last year national statistics agency statssa said in a statement this represents the largest annual increase since the 147 rise in march 2009 the agency said overall consumer inflation rose to 71 percent last month from 70 percent in february and 69 percent in january milk eggs cheese sugar fruit and vegetables were among the most affected products the agency said in a bid to rein in soaring costs the central bank sharply raised its main interest rate half a percentage point to 775 percent last month inflation has been on the up worldwide fuelled by supply chain disruptions after the easing of covid restrictions as well as surging energy and food prices following russias invasion of ukraine