Consumer inflation minus mortgage costs (CPIX) rose to 4.1 percent last month from 3.7 percent in April, Statistics SA reported on Wednesday.

The main contributors were annual increases in the price indices for food, transport, medical care and health expenses, housing, excluding interest rates on mortgage bonds, education and alcoholic beverages, it said in a statement.

The consumer inflation rate for food prices rose to 6.9 percent last month compared to a rate of 6.2 percent in April.

The headline inflation rate in May 2006 came in at 3.9 percent, up by 0.6 of a percentage point compared to April's rate of 3.3 percent.

"The main contributors to the 3.9 percent inflation rate were similar to those for April, namely annual increase in the price indices for food, transport, housing, medical care and health expenses and education," Stats SA said.

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