Earlier today, Stats SA released its consumer inflation data for October, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI).
Over the period, inflation rose slightly.
Let's take a closer look at what the data revealed…
Consumer inflation comes in at 4.7% for October
On a year-on-year basis, consumer inflation rose 0.1% from September to 4.7% in October, reports Fin24. On a mon... ››› more
It looks like another tariff hike could be looming for electricity users. Eskom has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South African (NERSA) for approval to raise a shortfall.
This could see a double digit rise to electricity tariffs from next year.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
Eskom is seeking to recoup R22.8 billion
Today, Eskom applied to th... ››› more
The rand has continued weaker this year. While this in itself has inflationary consequences, it could get worse for consumers.
This as the drought affecting much of the country means food prices are set to rise and importing food will be more expensive because of the weak currency.
Let's take a closer look…
Food imports mean rising food prices
Grain SA has warned that food... ››› more
On Saturday, the Department of Energy announced its changes to the prices of fuel for November.
It revealed good news for motorists as both the petrol price and the diesel price will fall.
Let's take a closer look…
Fuel prices fall all round
On 4 November, the “price of all grades of petrol [and] the wholesale price of both grades of diesel” will fall, reports Fin24. T... ››› more
Earlier today, Stats SA released its producer inflation figures for September.
The data showed a slight rise in the key economic indicator compared to the same period last year.
Yet lower fuel prices helped to offset a larger rise.
Let's take a closer look at what the data revealed…
Producer inflation rose to 3.6%
Producer inflation, as measured by the producer price index (PPI... ››› more
Yet again, after much speculation, the US Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep interest rates unchanged.
But the committee hinted that a hike could happen at its next meeting in December.
Let's take a closer look…
The Fed surprised the market with hints of an interest rate hike in December
Going with overall consensus, the Fed kept interest rates the same, reports BDLive.... ››› more
This morning, Stats SA released its unemployment figures for the third quarter of the year. The rate rose from the second quarter.
The rise in the number out of work coincides with an economy struggling to grow.
Let's take a closer look…
Unemployment rises to 25.5%
The rate of unemployment in South Africa has risen 0.5% to 25.5% from July to September, reports Fin24. Whilst the ra... ››› more
At the beginning of the month, the release of tourism data showed that the new visa regulations the South African government imposed were taking their toll.
This led the tourism industry to ask the government to remove the new regulations as numbers showed they were having a big impact on the number of tourists visiting SA.
Not good news for an economy already under pressure.
The governme... ››› more
Last week when the finance minister gave his medium-term budget speech, the rand fell sharply.
The contents of Nhlanhla Nene's mini budget along with the student protests going on outside parliament were not good news for the country's currency or for its credit ratings.
Now there seems to be the very real possibility of a credit downgrade.
Let's take a closer look…
SA’s credit ... ››› more
Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene had to delay his medium-term budget yesterday as student protests outside of parliament took centre stage.
The rand fell sharply from the beginning of the mini budget until Nene had finished his address.
And now there's the stark reality of South Africa's credit rating being at risk of further downgrades.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
... ››› more
Today saw finance minister Nhlanhla Nene give his medium-term budget.
Whilst he didn't drop in any surprises, he did say that the Treasury would be looking at ways to increase tax revenues.
Let's take a closer look…
South African economic growth should start rising next year
Last year, the Treasury introduced a number of austerity measures to cut back spending, reports Fin24. Nene... ››› more
Earlier today, Stats SA released its consumer inflation data for last month.
The key economic indicator, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), showed no change from August.
Let's take a closer look…
Consumer inflation remains at 4.6%
South Africa’s rate of consumer inflation remained unchanged at 4.6% last month on a year-on-year basis, reports IOL. But looking at the ... ››› more
Earlier today, China released its gross domestic product (GDP) data for the third quarter of the year.
The data showed that economic growth has pulled back to its lowest level since 2009, but the data was better than many analysts forecast.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
Economic growth slowed to 6.9% from 7%
The Chinese Bureau of Statistics said that “gross domest... ››› more
Yesterday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its global economic growth forecasts. The organisation cut its growth forecasts for this year and next.
The forecasts are lower than others, including the South African Reserve Bank's.
So what does the IMF think lies ahead for SA?
Let's take a closer look…
The IMF pencils in lower economic growth
The IMF believes that ec... ››› more
Yesterday, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) revealed that business confidence in the country hit a 22 year low last month.
So what's causing business confidence to continue to fall?
Let's take a closer look…
Business confidence plunged to 81.6
Last month, business confidence sunk to hit “its lowest level since the end of apartheid,” reports Fin24. Thi... ››› more