The platinum strike’s final kick and data releases from the US and Europe will head this week’s economic news.
Here is your guide to the data releases, central bank meetings and other events likely to drive markets in the week ahead.
Trade and tax data have improved the outlook marginally, but consumer spending remains cautious.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s final Budget speech before elections in May is a masterplan to please the masses.
We need a way to measure whether our nations are progressing, in terms of the real things that matter to real people, writes Michael Green.
South Africa’s structural problems are holding back growth and job creation, warns the International Monetary Fund.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget has shown taxpayers will not see increases in income tax or VAT but sin taxes and fuel levies will go up.
Economic growth pleasantly surprised the market with an increase of 2.1% but analysts are still warning of tough times ahead.
America’s "fiscal cliff", the name given to the hundreds of billions of dollars in tax rises and spending cuts, will dominate the economic week.
All the gushing about growth largely ignores the continent’s political risks and challenges, says Dianna Games.
The mining sector’s wildcat strikes has left a deeper dent in the SA economy than expected with only a 1.2% real gross domestic product increase.
By
Over the coming days, US President Barack Obama will begin talks on the country’s fiscal cliff, while China will wrap up its leadership transition.
While the financial crisis deepens in other parts of the world, the African growth story has just begun, but it’s not clear what role SA will play.
The economic week ahead will blow in with a massive storm in the US – the world’s largest economy – and end with vehicle sales figures here in SA.
Foreign direct investment flows into South Africa has tumbled 43.6% in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year.
As unprotected strikes continue to spread across SA, the effect on domestic growth for the third quarter will affect output in 2013.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says SA’s growth this year is likely to miss forecasts while the central bank warns about the economy’s vulnerability.
The summer of the EU’s 2012 meltdown will signal SA’s winter of discontent as an economic crisis looks set to play out with devastating consequences.
Statistics South Africa says economic growth has slowed slightly in the first quarter of 2012.
The global economic slump has begun to affect the economy and South Africans may wish to reconsider getting that new iPad or applying for more credit.
The state, economists say, can afford to double its debt levels and lift borrowing to about R1-trillion to pay its ambitious infrastructure plans.
The IMF has warned that Swaziland’s fiscal crisis has reached a critical point and there is a high risk that the kingdom will be unable to pay wages.
No image available
/ 16 February 2012
It is an election year in the US and anything, even what cannot possibly be supported by the evidence, can be said, as long as it gets votes.
Supply constraints, double-digit price hikes and power outages are taking their toll on the economy, experts say. And brace for more load-shedding.
No image available
/ 23 January 2012
Economists and investors across the globe will be digesting a host of economic reports for signs that recent rallies may continue.
No image available
/ 5 December 2011
Hopes are high that European leaders may finally agree on a plan to address the continent’s debt crisis at a make-or-break gathering on Friday.
No image available
/ 29 November 2011
The DA and trade union Uasa say South Africa’s economic growth could be better despite suffering knock-on effects from Europe and the US.
No image available
/ 16 November 2011
SA’s current fiscal predicament is partly due to the severity of economic shocks but also because of the inefficiency of product and labour markets.
No image available
/ 6 September 2011
The department of finance has warned that South Africans need to save money in order to avoid high indebtedness.
No image available
/ 1 September 2011
The purchasing managers’ index rose to a seasonally adjusted 46.7 in August from a two-year low of 44.2 in July, sponsor Kagiso said on Thursday.
Spain’s ruling and opposition parties bridged bitter rivalry and struck a deal to cap the long-term public deficit and fend off fears of a state debt.
The IMF’s latest report on the South African economy predicts a positive growth trend, but highlights necessary changes such as labour market reform.