Better than expected inflation outcomes domestically and globally back the case for the central bank to cut the repo rate to 8%, economists said
In this instalment of The Fiscal Cliff – a Mail & Guardian series on how South Africa’s budget has been shaped – Sarah Smit considers the intimate link between the country’s ultra-high unemployment rate and austerity
Investors will struggle to look beyond the country’s energy and logistics crises
Today, as the country awaits the next update on the state of its public purse, the prospect of a debt crisis seems more imminent than before. This is as South Africa’s fiscal position has deteriorated markedly during the course of this year, a dilemma that could see the treasury inflicting another round of spending cuts.
Mining windfall helped SA’s financial position, but lower revenues and additional spending will delay the end of fiscal consolidation
A bigger alliance will give the group extra economic heft, but it remains to be seen whether its members can speak in one voice
The recent rand crash has led some to believe another 50 basis point rise is on the horizon, despite a view that further hiking will do little to tame inflation
The currency, which is usually a bellwether for other emerging markets, has diverged from global trends – thanks in large part to
the energy crisis
Any gains made at the beginning of the year could be undone as the protests and the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown threaten business confidence
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago makes a case for a lower target, though the trade union federation prefers job creation
The already turbulent labour market could see more strain if aspiring students lose out
But the country’s GDP growth in the fourth quarter of last year shows positive signs of recovery, at 6.3%
VAT should not be hiked, but a once-off levy on mineral resources or a solidarity tax seems likely
The country’s economy grew at an annualised rate of 66.1%, marking the strongest pace of expansion since at least 1993
StatsSa has dubbed Q2 of 2020 the “pandemic quarter” as a result of hard Covid-19 lockdown that saw most sectors of the economy plummeting
The gross domestic product numbers are likely to be gloomy, but the economy is not at ground zero
Drought, electricity load-shedding and public servants who are quitting are weighing down an already weak economy.
Inflation figures are good, but uncertainty over the oil price raises a question about interest rates.
African Bank’s plight seemed to come as a shock, but banks started tightening up credit a year ago.
Economist Kevin Lings highlights agricultural disappointments in an extract from his book ‘The Missing Piece: Solving South Africa’s Economic Puzzle’.
The month on month decline in the leading economic indictor means the economy will be hard-pressed for the first half of 2014.
Good figures from last year suggest that 2012 is likely to be even better.
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/ 2 December 2011
This week gross domestic product (GDP) figures indicated a continued trend of slow economic growth with inflation on the rise.
As debt troubles in Europe and the United States keep global markets jittery, foreign investors appear to be shying away from South African bonds.
The market turmoil of the past week has been a boon for 24-hour business channels, writes <b>Maya Fisher-French</b>.
Economists are raising alarm over losses in the private sector and growth in government jobs.
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/ 27 October 2010
We’re faced with the highest rate of unemployment in South Africa for the past five years. But monetary policy alone can’t solve the problem.
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/ 25 October 2010
There is speculation that the Reserve Bank may consider another rate cut. But what would this mean for consumers?
Although residential property demand and price momentum are slowing, a return to recession conditions is unlikely.
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/ 2 September 2010
It’s perhaps not entirely surprising that credit growth has lagged and annual growth in credit demand has not risen above 2%.
As SA’s real interest rate climbs, many economists anticipate that the Reserve Bank will cut rates to boost growth and save jobs.
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/ 23 October 2009
Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni has announced for the last time, that the repo rate was accordingly left unchanged at 7.00%.