Africa Data Response South Africa GDP (Q3) South Africa narrowly avoided a technical recession in Q3, but this will provide little comfort for an economy were anaemic growth is becoming entrenched as the new normal. Growth for the year as a... 24th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Focus The Myth of the “African Middle Class” Oft-repeated claims that an African “middle class” will propel economic growth in the region confuse cause and effect. Most estimates of the size of the region’s middle class rely on poorly drawn... 23rd November 2015 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Frontier markets scramble as Fed hike approaches Central banks across the world’s frontier markets are preparing themselves as the US Federal Reserve finally moves toward its first rate hike in nine years. Central bankers in Angola, Ghana, Zambia... 20th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Chart Pack Inflation worries, Fed prompt hikes across Africa Over the past month central banks in South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, and Mozambique have all hiked interest rates. These countries’ domestic situations all vary, but each is facing a combination of high... 20th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Slow, painful tightening cycle to continue The SARB’s decision to hike its key interest rate from 6.00% to 6.25% showed that the Bank is alarmed at the prospect of persistently high inflation in the context of disappointing growth. The... 19th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Retail Sales (Sep.) September’s retail sales figures were weaker than expected, supporting our belief that recent strong growth in the consumer sector is unsustainable. But today’s figures do at least suggest that the... 18th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Consumer Prices (Oct.) South African inflation accelerated to 4.7% y/y in October in what we believe is the beginning of a sharp inflationary spike. While tomorrow’s rate decision will be close, we expect that the SARB will... 18th November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update The EM debt problem revisited The past few weeks have seen increased awareness of potential debt problems brewing in the emerging world. In general, debt burdens are lower and more manageable in most EMs than in the past. But... 17th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response Nigeria GDP (Q3) GDP figures for Q3 support our long-held view that Nigeria’s 2015 economic performance will be far worse than is commonly expected. Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economy was just 2.8% in Q3... 17th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenya: CBK holds rates, hike still likely in Q1 While the Central Bank of Kenya held its key interest rate at 11.50% today, we expect that the Bank will be forced to raise rates by 100bp in early 2016 as inflation picks up and Fed tightening puts... 17th November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Market Consumer Snapshot (Q4 2015) Lower commodity prices have continued to weigh on consumption in commodity-exporting EMs. Indeed, there are signs that even in those economies where spending had previously held up reasonably well... 17th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Bank of Ghana doubles down on policy tightening The Bank of Ghana’s surprise interest rate hike reflects fears that above-target inflation is becoming entrenched. Tight monetary policy will be painful, but the Bank provided the first hint that... 16th November 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Ghana: 2016 budget targets will prove difficult to meet The pledge to cut Ghana’s fiscal deficit by 2.0%-pts of GDP next year will be welcomed by investors, but may prove difficult to achieve in the context of slow growth in the commodity-dependent economy... 13th November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Markets Capital Flows Monitor Our Capital Flows Tracker shows that EM capital outflows remained large in October, but they did at least decline from September. This should help to soothe concerns (overstated in our view) about an... 13th November 2015 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (Sep.) South Africa’s PGM production continued to fall in September as low prices are threatening miners’ profitability. Lonmin is just the latest example of an industry struggling to keep up with labour... 12th November 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Drag on EM exports from commodity collapse should ease soon EM exports remained weak in September as the drag from lower commodity prices continued to take its toll, even in countries which are not major commodity exporters. However, as this drag fades and... 12th November 2015 · 1 min read
