Few of us thought that the American labour market would be such an important economic indicator this year, but on Friday their non-farm payroll data was released and it was important. In September, 263,000 new jobs were created and the unemployment rate decreased from 3.7% to 3.5%. The average earnings per hour rose by 0.3% and on an annual basis, it stands at a 5% increase. All of this matters because it affects the Federal Reserve Bank's next interest rate decision.

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

Om netwerk infrastruktuurdienste soos elektrisiteitsvoorsiening, watervoorsiening en die spoorweë aan die werk te hou is van die belangrikste wat wat die regering kan doen om die ekonomie aan die gang te hou. Die privaatsektor raak toenemend betrokke, maar dit is meer en deels die regering se verantwoordelikheid. Die afgelope weke se beurtkrag, en die wateronderbrekings wat dit tot gevolg gehad het, wys hoe die owerheid misluk. Spoorweg infrastruktuur is oor baie jare afgeskeep en op baie plekke vernietig, en nou wil Transnet se werkers staak.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Lees die amaBhungane berigte hier.

Keeping network infrastructure services such as electricity supply, water supply and railways working is one of the most important things the government can do to keep the economy going. The private sector is becoming increasingly involved, but this is by and large still the government's responsibility. The load shedding in recent weeks, and the water shortages it has caused, show how the government is failing. Railway infrastructure has been neglected over many years and destroyed in many places, and now Transnet's workers want to strike.

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

Read the amaBhungane reports here.

On Tuesday I explained that ABSA and the Bureau of Economic Research's Purchasing Managers' Index fell in September and business activity and prospects appear subdued. Yesterday, S&P Global released their South African index and confirmed that private sector activity has been negatively affected by rising inflation and load shedding. Internationally, the chances seem increasingly slim that the world economy can make a soft landing where economic growth declines, but does not become a recession. It's all going to depend on the US Federal Reserve Bank.

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

Dinsdag het ek vertel dat ABSA en die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek se aankopebestuurdersindeks in Septembermaand gedaal het en besigheidsaktiwiteite en-vooruitsigte gedemp voorkom. Gister het S&P Global hulle indeks vir Suid-Afrika bekend gemaak en dit bevestig dat privaatsektor-aktiwiteit negatief geraak word deur stygende inflasie en beurtkrag. Internasionaal lyk die kanse al hoe meer skraal dat die wêreldekonomie ʼn sagtelanding kan maak waar ekonomiese groei afneem, maar nie ʼn resessie word nie. Dit gaan alles afhang van die Amerikaanse Federale Reserwebank.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Een van die leidende aanwysers van die sakesiklus is nuwe voertuigverkope. Dit is ʼn barometer van hoe dit met verbuikers gaan en syfers oor die verkope van vloot- en kommersiële voertuie asook uitvoer, gee ʼn aanduiding van die sakesektor en die buiteland se vraag. Naamsa het gister Septembermaand se voertuigverkopesyfers bekend gemaak en dit skets ʼn positiewe prentjie in vergelyking met verlede jaar. Daarby het die prys van petrol met R1,02 per liter gedaal.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

One of the leading indicators of the business cycle is new vehicle sales. It is a barometer of how consumers are doing and figures on the sales of fleet and commercial vehicles as well as exports, give an indication of business and foreign demand. Yesterday, Naamsa announced September's vehicle sales figures and it paints a positive picture compared to last year. In addition, the price of petrol fell by R1.02 per litre.

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

This week starts with two major economic indicators and unfortunately, neither of them is very positive. ABSA's Purchasing Managers' Index in collaboration with the Bureau of Economic Research decreased to 48.2 points in September. The NWU Business School's Policy Uncertainty Index stands at 59.6 points for the third quarter.

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

Die week begin met twee groot ekonomiese aanwysers en ongelukkig is nie een van hulle baie positief nie. ABSA se aankopebestuurdersindeks in samewerking met die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek het in September afgeneem tot 48,2 punte. Die NWU Sakeskool se Beleidsonsekerheids-indeks staan op 59,6 punte vir die derde kwartaal.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.