Food for Thought

Job creation gathers steam in the 2nd quarter

The 2nd quarter of 2022 managed to replicate the first quarter’s impressive job creation performance by adding another 400,000 new formal...

Aug 11, 20223 min read

Rise in building construction activity

The first five months of the year witnessed a remarkable improvement in the value of buildings completed in the metros and larger...

Freight costs to blame for inflation spike

Jul 29, 20223 min read

Freight costs to blame for inflation spike

Ever since global inflation started heading north at an alarming rate, much of the conventional wisdom surrounding the causes of this...

Consumers under pressure, but economy still growing

Jul 15, 20223 min read

Consumers under pressure, but economy still growing

Consumer sentiment around the globe has been dealt a blow by the sharp increase in price levels, particularly fuel and some food...

Jul 5, 20223 min read

Balance of payments in good shape

Ever since the recovery from the worst of the Covid-pandemic began in 2020, South Africa’s international trade has blossomed, with the...

Jun 21, 20223 min read

Welcome recovery of tourism

Few, if any, mainstream economic sectors were hit as hard by Covid-induced restrictions than the global hospitality sector. Fortunately,...

Employment growth promises a bonus for SARS

Jun 7, 20223 min read

Employment growth promises a bonus for SARS

A total of more than 400,000 new formal sector jobs were created in South Africa during the first quarter of the year – signalling a...

May 30, 20223 min read

Motor trade surging ahead

It did not take long for South Africa’s motor trade to stage a remarkable recovery from the disastrous first year of Covid-induced...

May 18, 20222 min read

All-time record for manufacturing sales

In March, South Africa’s manufacturing sector recorded its highest ever level of sales (at current prices). At R249-billion, the March...

May 3, 20223 min read

Exports surge to new record in March

South Africa’s export trade continues to set new records, a trend that commenced during the second year of the Covid pandemic. At just...

No universal remedy for containing inflation

Apr 22, 20223 min read

No universal remedy for containing inflation

South Africa’s consumer price index (CPI) is following the universal trend of steadily increasing, but at a markedly slower rate than...

Apr 14, 20222 min read

Retail still on the road to recovery

Retail trade sales have started the year on a positive note, with nominal growth of more than 7% recorded for January and February...

Apr 4, 20223 min read

Boost for new Growth Policy

President Cyril Ramaphosa had every reason to be pleased with the outcome of South Africa’s fourth Investment Conference, which was held...

Monetary policy ignorant of inflation's short-term nature

Mar 25, 20223 min read

Monetary policy ignorant of inflation's short-term nature

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) raised South Africa’s official bank rate (the repo rate) by...

CAPITAL MARKET REACTION TO WAR IN UKRAINE

Mar 7, 20224 min read

CAPITAL MARKET REACTION TO WAR IN UKRAINE

Two decades ago, the delegates at the annual gathering of the World Future Society, whose historical members include Carl Sagan, Alvin...

South Africa's Fiscal affairs turn the corner

Feb 24, 20223 min read

South Africa's Fiscal affairs turn the corner

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana probably cannot believe his luck. It is highly unlikely that a taxation revenue overrun of the...

Feb 4, 20223 min read

Exports surge to new record

South African exports increased to an impressive new record in 2021.

Jan 25, 20223 min read

Retail slow to recover from Covid

Retail trade sales, which represent close to 20% of South Africa’s GDP, still face a long road ahead to full recovery from Covid pandemic.

Jan 18, 20222 min read