Die ekonomie minuut

Any episode about the rand gets old or wrong very quickly, but the exchange rate is always interesting. Yesterday, the rand and JSE weakened due to the conservative tone of the Fed's communication and stronger dollar, and slower than expected growth in China.

Enige episode oor die rand word baie vinnig oud of verkeerd, maar die wisselkoers is altyd interessant. Gister het die rand en JSE verswak as gevolg van die konseratiewe toon van die Fed se kommunikasie en sterker dollar, en stadiger as verwagte groei in Sjina.

In South Africa we were worried when the inflation rate reached 5.2% in May. But after that, prices increased more slowly. The rate was 4.9% in June and yesterday we heard it was 4.6% in July. This sounds like good news (and it is), unless you want two opposing things.

In Suid-Afrika was ons bekommerd toe die inflasiekoers in Mei maand 5,2% was. Maar daarna het pryse stadiger toegeneem. Die koers was 4,9% in Junie en gister het ons gehoor dit was 4,6% in Julie. Dit klink soos goeie nuus (en dit is), behalwe as jy twee teenstellende dinge wil hê.

Moneyweb has an interesting story this week about South Africa's first successful saffron season. The red gold is here!

Moneyweb het hierdie week 'n interessante storie oor Suid-Afrika se eerste suksesvolle safraan seisoen. Die rooi goud is hier! Lees die hele storie hier

This week, July's CPI inflation figure and June's retail sales figures will be released.

Hierdie week word Julie-maand se VPI inflasiesyfer en Junie-maand se kleinhandel verkopesyfers bekend gemaak.

One of the interesting issues of the Covid-19 pandemic is how the world of work has changed. According to yesterday's Rapport, a survey found that only 4% of South African workers are willing to return to the office full time. Only 5% of employers are willing to let their staff work full time from home. My view is that these extremes are a false dichotomy.

Een van die interessante vraagstukke van die Covid-19 pandemie is hoe die wêreld van werk verander het. Volgens gister se Rapport het ʼn opname bevind dat slegs 4% van Suid-Afrikaanse werkers bereid is om voltyds terug te keer kantoor toe. Slegs 5% van werkgewers is bereid om hulle personeel voltyds van die huis af te laat werk. My siening is dat hierdie uiterstes spreek van ʼn valse tweeledigheid

Over the past week, much has been written in the media about the new Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana. His supporters point out that he has helped the ANC move away from populist policies, that investors know him, and that he knows how to steer the debate to find common ground. I think we need to measure the Minister's performance by two outcomes.

Die afgelope week is daar baie in die media geskryf oor die nuwe Minister van Finansies, Enoch Godongwana. Sy ondersteuners wys daarop dat hy die ANC gehelp het om weg te beweeg het van populistiese beleide, dat beleggers hom ken, en dat hy weet hoe om die debat te stuur om ʼn gemeenskaplike oplossings te vind. Ek dink dat ons die Minister se prestasie aan twee maatstawwe moet meet.

Production in the manufacturing sector is an important indicator of the recovery of the economy and at the moment it shows that recovery is still fragile.

Produksie in die vervaardigingsektor is ʼn belangrike aanwyser van die herstel van die ekonomie en op die oomblik wys dit dat daardie herstel nog broos is.

Planet Money has an interesting story this week about elite fund managers.

Planet Money het hierdie week ʼn interessante storie oor elite fondbestuurders.

The Minister of Sport, Nathi Mthethwa, said yesterday that South Africa's Olympic team does not reflect the country's demographics. He called on athletics federations to accelerate transformation. What he does not appreciate, is that the problem is economic.

Die Minister van Sport, Nathi Mthethwa, het gister gesê dat Suid-Afrika se Olimpiese span weerspieël nie die land se demografie nie. Hy het ʼn beroep gedoen op atletiekfederasies om transformasie te versnel. Wat hy nie besef nie, is die probleem is ekonomies.

What would you do if you hear that you're getting a fat bonus cheque this year? New car, or a nice holiday?

Wat sal jy maak as jy skielik hoor dat jy kry hierdie jaar ‘n vet bonusbetaling? Nuwe kar, of ‘n lekker vakansie?

The effects of last month's riots and the cyber-attack on Transnet are visible in the PMI and vehicle sales data released this week.

Die gevolge van verlede maand se onluste en die kuberaanval op Transnet is hierdie week sigbaar in aankopebestuurdersindeks en voertuigverkope data.

I often ask how the South African economy is doing, but what about the big picture? International economic prospects matter because it determines the demand for South African export products and our financial assets. That, in turn, affects the exchange rate and interest rates, and that affects everything else.

Ek vra gereeld hoe gaan dit met die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie, maar hoe lyk die konteks waarbinne ons ons moet groei? Internasionale ekonomiese vooruitsigte maak saak, want dit bepaal die vraag na Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerprodukte en na ons finansiële bates. Dit beïnvloed weer die wisselkoers en rentekoerse, en dit beïnvloed alles anders.

Last week's important economic news was the re-introduction of the R350 income grant. It is expected to help 6 million unemployed people and will be expanded to 3.5 million caregivers to supplement the child grant. Also, an interesting survey among businesses showed what happened to salaries in the past year. Finally, in the public sector, the government and trade unions have reached a one-year wa...