2024 economy: Some relief after a rocky road
Last year was dismal on a number of fronts. And although things probably won’t get exponentially better, there is some hope on the horizon
Gina Schoeman
What analysts will be watching out for at the mini budget
Eskom, Transnet and the public sector wage bill will feature large in next week’s medium-term budget policy statement
Reserve Bank will stay tough, even as inflation softens
Borrowers face another 75 basis point repo rate hike this week, as inflation looks to stay uncomfortably high
Reserve Bank may have helped South Africa avoid a more severe crunch
This is according to some economists, who say the Reserve Bank got ahead of the curve before inflation became entrenched
Hawkish Reserve Bank sees South Africa edge towards a rates hike
Analysts say the Reserve Bank could start tightening monetary policy as early as next month
South Africa’s recovery lags behind emerging market peers Mexico, India
The economy grew for the fourth consecutive quarter, but the country is playing catch-up to its peers
GDP stats: Economy grows, but not enough to secure jobs and long-term recovery
GDP rose 1.2% in the second quarter, but future growth indicators will likely be hit by July’s looting and unrest, as well as a dip in commodity prices
Treasury mulls lower inflation target
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago makes a case for a lower target, though the trade union federation prefers job creation
SA posts R1.7bn trade surplus in February
Improved trade data will help narrow South Africa’s current account deficit and is a sign the economy is rebalancing from consumption to production.
No image available
CPI ticks up to 3,4% in October
South Africa’s targeted consumer inflation quickened slightly to 3,4% year-on-year in October from 3,2% in September, data showed on Wednesday.
No image available
Economic confidence up, but outlook still bleak
South African economic confidence recovered from a near four-year-low in March, pointing to signs conditions may improve in the medium term, although the growth and inflation outlook remained bleak. A survey of 22 economists released on Thursday showed the Reuters Econometer ticked up to 231,39 from 227,02 in February.
