ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: South Africa Braces for CPI Increase as Rand Flounders

CONSUMER inflation and retail sales data due out this week will provide important clues on the likely pace of economic growth this year.

South Africans are braced for a further rise in the consumer price index (CPI) on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank’s recent inflation forecast had a poor outlook.
The Bank’s concerns about the growing risks to inflation from the weak rand and higher food prices have begun to materialise.

Tourism Data could Brighten a Dark Outlook- ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD:

WITH very few data releases on the economic calendar this week, attention will fall on domestic mining and manufacturing production on Thursday, as well as global events.

Although investors are more interested in what Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will say in his budget speech on February 24, they will also pay attention to President Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address on Thursday.