While cash-strapped South Africans have been hit hard by the weak economy, a number of products are actually cheaper to buy in 2017, according to a new Statistics South Africa report.

Topping this list is telecommunications equipment which is 8.6% cheaper when compared to January 2017, stated the report.

This includes average price for a cellular phone, decreased by R82 from R2,622 in January 2017 to R2,540 in August 2017.

Since January 2014, overall prices for telecommunication equipment have fallen by 36%, the report said.

Other items which are now cheaper across South Africa include fruit (8.4%), furniture (4.1%) and breads and cereals (4%).

Postal and telecommunication services, recreational equipment, fuel (petrol and diesel), hotels and appliances all also experienced slight price decreases.

If you prefer using 93 octane petrol and you live inland, filling a 45 litre tank in August would have set you back R577 compared with the R589 it would have cost you in January.

Fuel overall was 1,7% cheaper in August than it was in January.

However, the year is not over yet, warned Stats SA.

Fuel prices increased between August and September, and the recent adjustment in fuel prices in October saw the price of 93 octane petrol rise by 25 cents from R13,49 to R13,74 per litre.

The extent to which these changes will impact inflation will only be fully revealed in Stats SA’s CPI releases in October and November.

Read: Here is the official petrol price for October 2017