Economists talk a lot about the economy, but because data is available with such a lag, it's a lot like driving a car while mostly looking in the rearview mirror. This week's major indicator is the third quarter's economic growth figure.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Ekonome sê baie oor die ekonomie, maar omdat data met so sloering beskikbaar is, is dit baie soos om ʼn motor te bestuur terwyl jy meestal in die truspieëltjie kyk. Hierdie week se groot aanwyser is die derde kwartaal se ekonomiese groei-syfer.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Die week eindig met ekonomiese nuus wat oorskadu word deur die politieke gevolge van die Phala Phala saga. Daar was eintlik positiewe internasionale en plaaslike nuus, maar mens sou dit skaars sê as jy die rand-dollar wisselkoers dopgehou het.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

The week ends with economic news overshadowed by the political fallout from the Phala Phala saga. There was actually positive international and local news, but one would hardly know if you were keeping an eye on the rand-dollar exchange rate.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Terwyl ons wag vir vandag se aankopebestuurdersindeks en Naamsa se voertuigverkopesyfers praat ek graag oor interessante navorsing oor hoe handelsbeperkings verbruikerspryse beïnvloed. ʼn Tarief is ʼn belasting wat op ingevoerde produkte gehef word om die prys te verhoog. Dit beskerm binnelandse produsente teen onregverdige mededinging, maar verbruikers betaal meer. Tariewe op hoedervleis wat onlangs verminder is en gevriesde aartappelskyfies wat onlangs verhoog is, was in die nuus.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

While we wait for today's purchasing managers' index and Naamsa's vehicle sales figures, I want to talk about some interesting research on how trade restrictions affect consumer prices. A tariff is a tax levied on imported products to increase the price. It protects domestic producers from unfair competition, but consumers pay more for the imported product. Tariffs on chicken meat have recently been reduced and those on frozen potato chips were recently raised and made the news.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Statistieke Suid-Afrika het gister die resultate van die arbeidsmagopname vir die derde kwartaal bekend gemaak – dit is die periode Julie, Augustus en September. Die werkloosheidskoers het afgeneem vanaf 33,9% tot 32,9%. Gemeet volgens die breë definisie wat die ontmoedigde werkers insluit, het die koers ook met een persentasiepunt afgeneem tot 43,1%. Die bedrywe waar daar werk geskep was, is vervaardiging, handel, konstruksie en vervoer.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Yesterday, Statistics South Africa announced the results of the third quarter labour force survey - that is the period July, August and September. The unemployment rate decreased from 33.9% to 32.9%. Measured according to the broad definition that includes the discouraged workers, the rate also decreased by one percentage point to 43.1%. The industries where jobs were created are manufacturing, trade, construction, and transport.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

This week has some important local economic indicators, but how are things abroad? The Bureau of Economic Research's weekly newsletter gives a good summary of what to keep an eye on. How things are going in the European Union, or the British economy affects everyone in industries that export – from the miners to the vehicle manufacturers and the farmers. If our trading partners struggle it also dampens prospects in South Africa. On the other hand, slower growth of the world economy will ease pressure on the oil price and lower interest rates in the US will strengthen the rand-dollar exchange rate.

* The Economics Minute is supported by the NWU Business School.

Hierdie week het ʼn paar belangrike plaaslike ekonomiese aanwysers, maar hoe staan sake in die buiteland? Die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek se weeklikse nuusbrief gee ʼn goeie opsomming van wat om dop te hou. Hoe dit met die Europese Unie, of Britse ekonomie gaan raak almal in bedrywe wat uitvoer – van die myne tot die voertuigvervaardigers en die boere. As dit swaar gaan met ons handelsvennote demp dit ook vooruitsigte in Suid-Afrika. Aan die ander kant sal stadiger groei van die wêreldekonomie druk op die olieprys verlig en laer rentekoers in die VSA die rand-dollar wisselkoers versterk.

* DIe Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.