The ANC has made the call for more flexible monetary policy before, but has dithered in seeing it through
Although direct trade and financial links between Africa, Russia and Ukraine may be small, the main effect of the war will be civil strife in Africa driven by food and energy inflation
Economy hitting geopolitical tensions, pressure on consumers and load-shedding will likely stick around
There is much to suggest that global economic disaster is not assured, or even likely, in the near future
The ruling party has repeated its proposal to nationalise the central bank’s ownership and mandate, but says it must be done in a way that is conscious of costs
After a decade of growth during the 2010s, the country has suffered setbacks, including the pandemic and a severe drought
Rising interest rates and living costs deal a double blow to the poor
Prices have slowly retreated from their July peak, when inflation increased at its highest rate since 2009
Decisions from a decade ago have come back to haunt economies – policymakers should be vigilant
Because the analytical tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, decisive action based on careful analysis is the best way to adapt to an inflationary environment
The government has tried to exploit negative sentiment towards public sector workers, but siding with the employer may be even more difficult
Consumer inflation hit 7.6% year-on-year in October, bucking the downward trend that had been anticipated after the July ‘peak’
The South African Reserve Bank will yet again in all likelihood raise interest rates to fend off the rising tide of inflation — it’s the only tool they have.
The increase will probably add to the South African Reserve Bank’s hawkishness, with analysts expecting another large repo rate hike on Thursday
Analysts are expecting the Reserve Bank to remain hawkish amid still high inflationary pressures and a weak rand
Eskom, Transnet and the public sector wage bill will feature large in next week’s medium-term budget policy statement
The country’s precarious growth means that, even as inflation cools, it is vulnerable to shocks
But prices are expected to remain higher for longer in the wake of a tighter oil market
Commentators have weighed in on the Transnet strike’s economic hit, but strike season isn’t over yet
‘The worst is yet to come,’ the IMF said about the global economy this week. But, for now at least, South Africa’s inflation looks to be subsiding
Food prices are too high for some households to bear but more targeted relief might have a greater impact
Workers are in the throes of a cost of living crisis, which could force the government to fold on its hard line against more spending
The government should rather consider a targeted approach to reducing inflation
Stay vigilant and really understand what higher interest rates mean for you, says one expert
Most household lack access to adequate food to meet dietary needs for a healthy, active lifestyle
Two of the monetary policy committee’s five members preferred an even more painful 100 basis point hike, as bank remains hawkish
Borrowers face another 75 basis point repo rate hike this week, as inflation looks to stay uncomfortably high
Maybe an inflation mid-point target of 4.5% is too low for a developing country such as South Africa to allow higher levels of growth so desperately needed
Global dynamics and South Africa’s energy crisis will weigh on domestic growth for years to come. But green investment could, eventually, resuscitate the economy
There is a limit to what the government can do in terms of subsidies, given the fiscal situation, say experts
Labour unions have embarked on a nationwide strike over the high cost of living
Lesetja Kganyago defended the bank’s inflation-targeting regime amid criticism that it will do little to cushion consumers against external shocks