Africa Data Response Nigeria Consumer Prices (Jun.) Nigeria’s headline inflation rate edged up to 34.2% y/y in June on the back of the pass-through from previous naira falls. But we think this marks the peak and inflation should start to decline. If... 15th July 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Jun.) South Africa’s manufacturing PMI remained weak in June but improving electricity supply conditions and reduced political uncertainty should support a modest pick-up in activity. That said, the economy... 1st July 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Consumer Prices (May.) South Africa’s headline inflation rate was unchanged at 5.2% y/y in May and, while still some way off the 4.5% mid-point of the SARB’s target range, the formation of a government of national unity... 19th June 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa GDP (Q1 2024) South Africa’s economy contracted by 0.1% q/q in the first quarter of the year and the latest evidence suggests that fragility has continued into Q2. A less acute drag from loadshedding should support... 4th June 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (May.) South Africa’s manufacturing PMI plummeted in May and, while we expect conditions to improve as the electricity situation continues to stabilise, alongside recent activity data it underlines the... 3rd June 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Rapid Response South Africa Interest Rate Announcement (May) The South African Reserve Bank’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged at 8.25% was never in doubt. Governor Kganyago said as little about the election as was possible, but the MPC will be... 30th May 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Rapid Response South Africa’s Election The early results from South Africa’s election which took place yesterday point to the ruling ANC securing a vote share closer to the low end of projections (at just over 40%), increasing the chances... 30th May 2024 · 3 mins read
Africa Data Response Nigeria GDP (Q1 2024) Nigeria’s GDP growth slowed to 3.0% y/y in Q1, driven by a halving in the oil sector growth rate, alongside high inflation and tighter monetary conditions continuing to drag on the non-oil economy. We... 24th May 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Rapid Response South Africa Consumer Prices (Apr.) South Africa’s headline inflation rate eased further to 5.2% y/y in April but the Reserve Bank will want to see more evidence that inflation and, crucially, inflation expectations are coming under... 22nd May 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Rapid Response Nigeria Interest Rate Announcement (May) The Central Bank of Nigeria delivered a larger-than-expected 150bp hike to its policy rate, to 26.25%, at its meeting today, reinforcing Governor Cardoso’s recent comments that officials will “do... 21st May 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Apr.) South Africa’s manufacturing PMI jumped in April, adding to signs the economy is finally moving on from stagnation as the electricity situation improves. And with price pressures still elevated, the... 2nd May 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Consumer Prices (Mar.) The larger-than-expected fall in South Africa’s headline inflation rate, to 5.3% y/y, in March will not be enough to sway the SARB from starting its easing cycle. 17th April 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response Nigeria Consumer Prices (Mar.) Nigeria recorded another acceleration in headline inflation to 33.2% y/y in March as the previous falls in the naira have continued to push up prices. And while the naira has staged a recovery... 15th April 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Update SARB keeping up the inflation fight The South African Reserve Bank left its repo rate unchanged at 8.25% for a fifth consecutive meeting today and the continued hawkish rhetoric from Governor Kganyago supports our view that rate cuts... 27th March 2024 · 2 mins read
Africa Data Response Nigeria Interest Rate Announcement (Mar.) The Central Bank of Nigeria continued its hiking cycle today, raising rates by 200bp to 24.75%, providing further evidence that officials are fighting aggressively to tackle the inflation problem and... 26th March 2024 · 2 mins read