Africa Economic Outlook Tepid recovery as “Big Three” continue to struggle We expect that economic growth in Africa will pick up a bit in 2017 after a disastrous result in 2016. But the region’s recovery will be very weak, largely because of the poor performance of Nigeria... 7th December 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa GDP (Q3) South African Q3 GDP data showed that the economy slowed by even more than most had anticipated. While the Reserve Bank has sounded a little more hawkish over the past month, today’s weak data support... 6th December 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Nov.) The improvement of South Africa’s manufacturing PMI in November should not distract from the fact that the measure still points to a very poor performance. All of the early data suggests that the... 1st December 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Trade Balance (Oct.) South Africa’s trade balance improved in October, but this was driven largely by a fall in imports. This may be an early sign that domestic demand weakened. 30th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Trump effect limited, but Zuma rocks the rand The effect of the US election result on African currency and equity markets seems to have been fleeting. In South Africa, though, the rand has closely tracked the possibility that Jacob Zuma could be... 29th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Africa: Recovery yet to gain traction While we still expect that most African economies will pick up steam in 2017, the latest figures suggest that the region’s economic downturn has still yet to bottom out. Major economies across Africa... 29th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Downgrade, when it comes, will tell us little new Friday’s re-evaluation of South African FX debt by Fitch & Moody’s suggests the country probably will lose its investment grade status. A downgrade wouldn’t have a significant economic or financial... 28th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Rates on hold, but rhetoric turns hawkish Today’s press conference saw the SARB leave rates on hold but take a notably hawkish tone.Policymakers seem to be rowing back their claim that the tighten cycle is coming to an end. 24th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Consumer Prices (Oct.) Inflation in South Africa picked up from 6.1% y/y in September to 6.4% y/y in October, but we still expect that the SARB will keep its key policy rate on hold this week. 23rd November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Economy flatlined in Q3 September’s retail sales figure was a bit stronger than expected, but activity data for Q3 as a whole suggest that South Africa’s economy may have contracted last quarter. 16th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Political drama will only intensify In this Watch we argue that political tensions surrounding South African President Jacob Zuma will not ease following the embattled president’s victory in yesterday’s vote of no confidence. They will... 11th November 2016 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Sep.) South Africa’s total mine production rebounded in September, led by a sharp increase in PGM output on the back of higher prices. With inventories still abundant and the risk of labour disruptions... 10th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Output data point to (another) sharp slowdown South African manufacturing and mining output figures for September support our view that the strong economic growth recorded in Q2 was not sustained into the third quarter. 10th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (Oct.) South Africa’s manufacturing PMI fell dramatically last month. The sharp fall in the measure of future conditions suggests that hopes of a swift improvement in the country’s economic and political... 1st November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Africa: Political risk takes centre stage Political developments across Africa have raised risk perceptions in several key economies. Allies of South Africa’s president made yet another attempt to force the resignation of Pravin Gordhan, the... 27th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Fiscal goals still too ambitious Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget plans rely on an economic acceleration that we believe is unlikely to materialise. If growth stays weak, South Africa will over-shoot its deficit and debt... 26th October 2016 · 1 min read
