A woman uses a trolley as she shops at a Pick n Pay store at the Dobson Point Shopping Centre, in Soweto, South Africa, March 19, 2024. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File photo

JOHANNESBURG, March 20 (Reuters) – South Africa’s consumer inflation rose for the second month in a row in February to 5.6% year on year from 5.3% in January, statistics agency data showed on Wednesday.

The South African Reserve Bank, which targets inflation of between 3% and 6%, will announce a monetary policy decision next week.

The central bank is expected to wait until the third quarter of this year before announcing any rate cuts, a February poll showed.

Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel prices, accelerated in February to 5.0% in annual terms from 4.6% in January.

(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo)