Analysts expected inflation to continue on a downward trajectory in February after falling to 6.9% in January; instead, it reached 7%
Later this month the South African Reserve Bank will decide how big a rise the country’s flailing economy can take
The utility’s R400 billion debt has fed into the country’s 15-year energy crisis and low growth potential, which has been identified as a key credit weakness
One year on, the Kremlin’s impact appears to be retreating — but, amid uncertainty about the global economy’s growth trajectory, risks to inflation remain
The inflation rate fell for a third consecutive month, as petrol price cuts provided some welcome relief
The country’s energy crisis stands to shave two percentage points off growth in 2023
Reserve Bank’s inflation forecast likely to be pushed up, with Eskom set to increase the price of electricity by 18.65% from April
The decrease will probably lead to the South African Reserve Bank being less aggressive with rate hikes next week
Economy hitting geopolitical tensions, pressure on consumers and load-shedding will likely stick around
Prices have slowly retreated from their July peak, when inflation increased at its highest rate since 2009
Growth in the third quarter is encouraging, but analysts have cautioned against viewing the data as a sign of the economy’s improved health
Analysts were expecting far more modest GDP growth, considering the mixed bag of economic data for the third quarter
Consumer inflation hit 7.6% year-on-year in October, bucking the downward trend that had been anticipated after the July ‘peak’
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
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
Most respondents to a DebtBusters survey are anxious or uneasy about the state of their finances
This is according to some economists, who say the Reserve Bank got ahead of the curve before inflation became entrenched
Inflation has breached the ceiling of the Reserve Bank’s target range for the first time in more than five years
There is a lot bearing down on South African consumers and, without growth, the economy stands to decline
Economic and financial conditions are expected to remain more volatile for the foreseeable future, says central bank
The slowdown was helped by lower fuel prices. But this relief was temporary, as February saw another petrol hike
The monetary policy committee has voted to lift the repo rate by another 25 basis points as advanced economies mull policy tightening
Without tighter capital controls, regulating the flow of money in and out of their economies, Turkey and South Africa are vulnerable to the whims of the financial markets
The central bank has been criticised for hiking interest rates to the detriment of employment
Critics have said the repo rate hike will jeopardise already sluggish economic growth, but others say the gradual increase will have little effect
The decision to hike the repo rate by 25 basis points comes in the wake of red-hot inflation in advanced economies and fears policymakers will start to dial back on accommodative measures
Global inflation has surprised on the upside, which may factor into whether the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee decides to raise the interest rate on Thursday
Analysts say the Reserve Bank could start tightening monetary policy as early as next month
In South Africa, a strong trade surplus, buoyed by robust commodity prices, will cushion our economy against pressure arising from US policy
The economy grew for the fourth consecutive quarter, but the country is playing catch-up to its peers