Africa Economics Update South Africa: Growth remained robust in Q3 New activity data suggest that South Africa’s long-suffering economy experienced comparatively robust growth in mid-Q3. Today’s figures support our markedly above-consensus growth forecasts. 18th October 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Deficit within target, but finances weak Nigeria’s budget deficit is, perhaps surprisingly, smaller than the government had expected. But this comes at a significant economic cost. And even the country’s small shortfall may prove hard to... 17th October 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenya: Risk of violent crisis escalating Kenya’s post-election legal drama is still rapidly developing. But the latest developments all suggest that the country’s chance of avoiding a violent (and economically painful) crisis is dwindling. 13th October 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Economy remained strong in Q3 After bouncing back in Q2, the latest activity data suggest that South Africa’s economy remained strong in mid-Q3. This supports our above-consensus growth forecasts for the country. 12th October 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update African markets soften in September A combination of rising political risk and falling commodity prices caused key African markets to weaken over the past month. Only a few markets bucked the trend, and they gained very little ground. 28th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Rates on hold, but cuts are still on the way Nigerian policymakers kept rates on hold today, but the accompanying statement made it clear that easing is on the way. We expect that the first cut will come in Q1 2018. 26th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South African loosening cycle put on hold The South African Reserve Bank has paused its loosening cycle, but we expect that it will cut rates at its November meeting, by which time inflation will have eased further. 21st September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenyan MPC holds rates again, but will ease in 2018 The Kenyan MPC kept rates unchanged today, but we expect that they will loosen policy next year as inflation falls towards the middle of the target range. 18th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Growth slips at start of Q3 July activity data suggest that South Africa’s economy weakened at the start of Q3. But GDP still grew by about 1.5% q/q saar at the start of Q3, supporting our above-consensus growth forecasts. 13th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenya: Not out of the woods yet Most commentators hailed the Kenyan Supreme Court’s decision to annul the result of last month’s presidential election as a key win for the country’s democracy. This is, as yet, premature. The real... 12th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Q2 GDP: South Africa rebounds, Nigeria limps out of recession Africa’s two largest economies returned to growth in Q2. But while South African growth rebounded, things in Nigeria remained very weak, causing us to downgrade our 2017 growth forecast to 1.2%. 5th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria & South Africa: Key economies bounced back in Q2 GDP figures due out Tuesday will probably show that the Nigerian & South African economies returned to growth in Q2. Indeed, we think that both countries will perform better than most expect this year... 4th September 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update African markets continue to pick up August was another strong month for African markets as key equity indices gained. Fears that politics would knock markets off course proved ill-founded. 30th August 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Angola: New president, same problems Angola’s new president inherits an economy that will perform worse than most expect in 2017. High levels of FX debt and shaky government finances raise the significant risk of a painful debt crisis. 25th August 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: New survey quantifies cost of corruption A new survey of corruption in Nigeria’s public service underlines the economic costs of its onerous FX and customs regime. The publication of the commendable frank survey is, in itself, a very... 18th August 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Retail sales point to stronger Q2 South African retail sales figures released earlier today support our view that the country’s economy returned to growth in Q2. We expect that growth will surprise to the upside over 2017 as a whole. 16th August 2017 · 1 min read
