Economists are warning consumers to brace themselves for the petrol price to rise by about 50 cents a litre next month, SABC radio news reported on Tuesday.

The Department of Minerals and Energy announced last month that it would impose a minimum increase of 25 cents a litre, to recoup about R3- billion not passed on to motorists in previous price adjustments.

Economists warn that along with the normal adjustment, the increase could be between 40 and 60 cents a litre, the SABC said.

This would see diesel climb well above R10 a litre for the first time ever, while petrol will be just under R9.50 a litre.

Furthermore, the increase would cause food prices to rise even more and further fuel inflation, which is already above 10 percent.

Analysts believe the situation could encourage Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni to carry out his threat of calling an emergency meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, and hike interest rates by more than the usual 50 basis points.

However, economists caution against such a move, SABC reported.