Even as we struggle with load shedding, this week’s important economic news is inflation and interest rates, here and in the US. On Wednesday, Statistics South Africa will announce August's consumer price inflation figure, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve Bank's open market committee will meet. Both are going to be important indicators for our own Monetary Policy Committee's repo rate decision on Thursday.

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

Selfs al sukkel ons met beurtkrag is inflasie en rentekoerse, hier en in die VSA hierdie week se belangrike ekonomiese nuus. Woensdag maak Statistieke Suid-Afrika Augustusmaand se verbruikersprys-inflasiesyfer bekend, en Dinsdag en Woensdag vergader die Amerikaanse Federale Reserwebank se opemarkkomitee. Albei gaan belangrike aanwysers wees van ons eie Monetêre Beleidskomittee se repokoersbesluit Donderdag.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Speaking of policy reform, the one big issue on which a decision must be made soon is the R350 Covid SRD grant. The government has so far maintained that it is temporary, but it has been extended until April 2023. There are great expectations about some sort of announcement in next month's mini-budget.

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

So gepraat oor beleidshervorming is die een groot kwessie waaroor daar binnekort ʼn besluit geneem moet word die R350 Covid toelaag. Die regering het tot dus ver volgehou dat dit tydelik is, maar dit wel verleng tot April 2023. Daar is groot verwagtinge oor een of ander ʼn aankondiging in volgende maand se mini-begroting.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

There is so much news this week about the major economic issues in South Africa that it is difficult to take or leave, and so I decided to give a brief overview. If this short overview sounds interesting search for ERSA's The Covid Project, as well as the Presidency's presentation called Putting South Africa to work.

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

Daar is hierdie week soveel nuus oor die groot ekonomiese vraagstukke in Suid-Afrika dat dit moeilik is om te vat of te los, en toe het ek besluit om ‘n kort oorsig te gee. As hierdie kort oorsig interessant klink, doen 'n soektog vir ERSA The Covid Project, en ook die Presidensie se aanbied Putting South Africa to work.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Statistieke Suid-Afrika het gister mynbouproduksiedata vir Julie vrygestel en dit wys dat produksie met 8,4% gekrimp het, vergeleke met Julie 2021. Dit was die sesde maand in 'n ry dat uitset gedaal het. Die maand-tot-maand veranderinge skets 'n effens meer positiewe prentjie. In Mei het produksie met 1,8% gestyg, in Junie het dit met 0,9% gekrimp en in Julie met 2,3% gestyg.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Yesterday Statistics South Africa released mining production data for July and it shows that production contracted by 8.4%, compared to July 2021. This was the sixth month in a row that output fell. The month-on-month changes paint a slightly more positive picture. In May output increased by 1.8%, in June it contracted by 0.9% and in July increased by 2.3%.

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

We are all hoping that inflation starts to decline and the need for further sharp repo rate hikes diminishes, but what do those prospects look like? In yesterday's episode, I briefly explained that producers or sellers of products and services are still experiencing a lot of cost pressure and that part of it will be passed on to consumers. But this is only one side of the coin of a repo rate increase. The flip side is that we may have to raise rates because everyone else is doing it.

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

Ons almal hoop dat inflasie begin afneem en die noodsaak vir nog skerp repokoersstygings al hoe minder word, maar hoe lyk daardie vooruitsigte? In gister se episode het ek kortliks verduidelik dat produsente of verkopers van produkte en dienste nog heelwat kostedruk ervaar en dat deel daarvan aan verbruikers deurgegee gaan word. Maar dit is net een kant van die muntstuk van ʼn repokoers styging. Die ander kant is dat ons dalk koerse moet verhoog omdat almal anders dit doen.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.