April’s slight uptick suggests that the Reserve Bank will keep the benchmark repo rate at 7.5% next week

With inflationary pressures heightened, the Reserve Bank might take a cautionary approach regarding its interest rate decision on Thursday

Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the central bank would wait for the inflation rate to fall within its 3% to 6% target before it makes a cut

Repo rate drops to 3.5% as Reserve Bank predicts a 7.3% contraction in South Africa’s GDP

In November inflation for goods increased by 5.3% year-on-year, from 5.1% in October, according to Stats SA

South Africa, Nigeria and the UK are expected to release consumer inflation figures and the US will give an update on housing data this week.

A lower-than-expected inflation increase means there is less chance of a repo rate hike in the next quarter, say analysts.

Consumer inflation for June was lower than expected, but analysts still expect a number of factors to push it beyond its upper band of 6%.

Despite signs of economic growth, inflation and energy fears have put a damper on South Africa’s economic forecasts.

South Africa’s consumer price index, which was expected to have increased, has remained steady at 6.1% year-on-year in December.

As Stats SA is due to release December’s consumer price index this week, economists suggest consumer inflation is likely to have risen to 6.2%.

South Africans are spending less on food and health care compared to the last two years, said debit and credit card distributor Sureswipe on Friday.

Inflation figures came in higher than expected as businesses — and consumers — face a potential spate of government-controlled price increases.

Inflation will slip out of the SA Reserve Bank’s target band by the end of 2011 but will leave the repo rate unaffected, economists predict.

Inflation in SA remains "highly persistent" although pressures have been contained by weak demand and a relatively strong rand, says Pravin Gordhan.

Inflation expectations among urban Chinese rose in the third quarter and most think consumer prices unacceptably high, a central bank survey showed.

South Africa’s targeted consumer inflation quickened to its highest level in 15 months in June, but it was not in line with market expectations.

Monetary policy may remain favourable to the economy and inflation expectations are still within the central bank’s target range, says Monde Mnyande.

The increase in SA’s consumer price index was 4.6% year on year in May from 4.2% year on year in April, Statistics SA has said.

Commercial property services group Broll has released its latest retail barometer for shopping centres larger than 20 000 square metres.