January 2020

16 January 2020 – Manufacturing production decreased by 3,6% in November 2019 compared with November 2018. Nine of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period. The largest negative contributions were made by the following divisions: ·  wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-9,3% and contributing -1,1 percentage points); · motor vehicles, parts […]

15 January 2020 – The First National Bank (FNB)/Bureau for Economic Research Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) was unchanged at -7 points in the fourth quarter of 2019. FNB stated in a release on Tuesday that the -7 index point mark remained the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2017, which recorded a -8 index

14 January 2020 – A report published by rating agency Moody’s on Monday found that increasing external risks, muted growth and weak public finances were responsible for the continued negative outlook on the creditworthiness of sub-Saharan Africa sovereigns. Weak government finances would continue to pose a constraint and a less predictable external environment would aggravate

13 January 2020 – South African business confidence slumped to the lowest in 34 years in 2019 as the country faced power cuts, delays in policy implementation, deteriorating public finances and the risk of losing its only remaining investment-grade credit rating. A sentiment index compiled by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry showed

10 January 2020 – The World Bank is the first key institution to cut its economic growth forecast for South Africa to below 1% for 2020 due to electricity supply concerns. It now expects the economy to expand by 0.9% this year, the Washington-based lender said Wednesday in its Global Economic Prospects report. That compares

8 January 2020 – Activity in South Africa’s private sector shrank for the eighth consecutive month in December, with the return of nationwide power cuts choking output and new orders, a survey showed on Monday. IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 47.6 from 48.6 in November, its lowest since October 2018 and further

7 January 2020 – South Africa’s poultry and egg sector faced a range of hurdles in 2019, including avian flu outbreaks and increased competition from foreign importers. According to a report by global research company Research and Markets, the bird flu epidemic had a devastating effect on the local industry, particularly the cost of conducting

6 January 2020 – US President Donald Trump said he will sign the first phase of a trade deal with China on 15 January, sealing an agreement that sees the Asian nation raising purchases of American farm goods in exchange for lower tariffs on some of its products. The date has yet to be confirmed