Africa Economics Weekly Debt moratoriums, South Africa’s policy response This week’s G20 deal allowing low-income countries – many in Sub-Saharan Africa – to freeze debt payments on bilateral loans will provide much needed reprieve, most notably in Angola. But broader debt... 17th April 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Coronavirus round-up, defaults nearing The coronavirus continued to ripple through Sub-Saharan Africa this week, with policymakers ramping up containment measures. But there are reasons to think that severe restrictions will be less... 9th April 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Tumbling rand, coronavirus containment, default risks The current risk-off sentiment means that the South African rand’s slide this week will probably continue in the near term. And escalating containment measures will take an economic toll, despite... 3rd April 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Can containment work in Africa? IMF takes the stage African countries tightened their coronavirus containment measures this week, which will add to economic disruptions. But it isn't clear whether these policies will be as effective as they have been... 27th March 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Worsening outbreak, growth downgrades, rate cuts The coronavirus outbreak in Africa took a turn for the worse this week, with the number of cases more than tripling. Policymakers in South Africa and Ghana fired the first shots by cutting interest... 20th March 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Oil prices batter Angola, SARB prepares to fight back Six more African countries reported their first confirmed coronavirus infections this week, but the virus’ spread in the region remains slower than elsewhere. Even so, the economic shockwaves caused... 13th March 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Coronavirus adds to headwinds facing African economies In line with our new, more pessimistic global outlook, we’re in the process of downgrading our 2020 growth forecasts for most African economies. Even if actual infection numbers in the region remain... 6th March 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly South Africa’s budget brawl, no growth momentum in Nigeria South Africa’s budget speech this week struck a more realistic tone about the country’s dire economic situation, but we still think that there are a number of optimistic assumptions underpinning the... 28th February 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly South Africa prepares for budget, Nigeria’s PIB stumbles on South Africa’s 2020 budget speech – taking place next week – will lay out the government’s fiscal consolidation plans. Given the grim economic backdrop and the need to provide aid to Eskom, tax hikes... 21st February 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Ramaphosa promises reform, Ethiopia delays vote, BoG to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest state of the nation address came against a grim backdrop of figures suggesting that the economy re-entered recession in Q4. The president’s plans to open up the... 14th February 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Virus disruptions start to hit Africa, all eyes on SONA While Africa has – so far – not reported any cases of the new coronavirus, evidence is building that shutdowns in China are causing economic disruptions for the region. Kenya’s locust infestation will... 7th February 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Downbeat forecasts, Central bankers, plagues of locusts We published our latest Africa Economic Outlook this week, laying out below-consensus views on South Africa and Angola, but more optimistic forecasts for Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia. We think that... 31st January 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly CBN tweaks, Zambia struggles, Ramaphosa consolidates Nigerian policymakers kept their key rate on hold today, but tinkered with the cash reserve ratio in an effort to put a floor under falling interbank rates. Elsewhere, South Africa’s reform-minded... 24th January 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly SA: Q4 recession likely, SARB to the rescue? UK in Africa This week’s South African economic figures suggest that activity in November was stronger than we’d expected, but we still think that a poor performance in December caused output to fall over Q4 as a... 17th January 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly S. Africa: Recession looms, but exams provide ray of hope Downbeat South African activity figures out this week strengthened our belief that the country’s economy slipped into another technical recession in Q4. On a more positive note, exam results suggested... 10th January 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly SA trade figures, Kenya’s drought, Ugandan inflation The increase in South Africa’s trade surplus in November might look like good news at first glance, but it is merely a reflection of the weak economy. In Kenya, recently released data show that the... 3rd January 2020 · 5 mins read