ARTICLES RELATING TO
INFLATION
The anticipated food price hikes will further burden the many already struggling to pay for expensive electricity and other living costs.
South Africa's headline producer inflation was at 5.7% year-on-year in March compared with 5.4% in February, Statistics SA says.
South Africa's headline consumer inflation undershot market expectations in March, coming in unchanged at 5.9% compared with February, data shows.
SA's inflation outlook has worsened because of a weaker rand but is still seen holding within a 3%-6% target band, a Reserve Bank official says.
Zimbabwe's headline consumer inflation slowed to 2.76% year-on-year in March, data from the Zimstats national statistics agency shows.
Rising inflation and a volatile rand are among the main challenges for monetary policy authorities, says the Reserve Bank’s head of research.
Inflation is likely to rise this year while growth will only pick up modestly, leaving the Reserve Bank with no room to cut interest rates, a poll has found.
The SA Reserve Bank's concern about growth and consumer growth in particular shows that interest rate hikes are just not possible, economists say.
Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus has made it clear that she would not be stepping in to stem a 9% depreciation in the rand this year.
Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus has cited a few upside risks to inflation and the growth outlook that influenced the bank's decision on interest rates.
The South African Reserve Bank has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.0%, citing inflation and currency concerns.
South Africa's headline consumer inflation accelerated above expectations to 5.9% year-on-year in February, from 5.4% in January, according to Stats SA.
Analysts view Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus's comments on the rand as a soft form of intervention as well as part of a more open communications style.
The rand's recent bout of weakness is "overdone" and will affect inflation‚ Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus says.
The Producer Price Index for final manufactured goods increased annually by 5.8% in January 2013, Statistics SA says.
