Die ekonomie minuut

Can the government make a credible case that a significant part of Eskom's debt should be taken over? Still, even if the credit rating weakens, a stronger Eskom will provide enough power to get the economy growing, and then the bigger government debt burden is not a problem?

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

Economists often talk about how the economy as a whole is doing, but it's actually difficult to understand divergent signals and say where we are in the business cycle. We know that inflation is high and to combat this, central banks are raising their lending rates. If consumers then cut back on their spending, businesses find it difficult to pass on price increases and inflation will slowly stabilize. The danger, of course, is that this process could lead to a recession. This week, there were two indicators that described this dynamic: the interest rates on government debt and forward contracts on soft commodities.

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

Ekonome praat gereeld oor hoe dit met die ekonomie as geheel gaan, maar dit eintlik moeilik om uiteenlopende seine te verstaan en te sê waar staan ons in die sakesiklus. Ons weet dat inflasie is hoog en om te te bestry verhoog sentrale banke hulle uitleenkoerse. As verbruikers dan hulle besteding terugsny vind verkopers dit moeilik om prysverhogings deur te gee en stadig stabiliseer inflasie. Die gevaar is natuurlik dat hierdie proses tot ʼn resessie kan lei. Hierdie week was daar twee aanwysers wat hierdie dinamiek beskryf het: die rentekoerse op staatskuld en vooruitkontrakte op sagte kommoditeite.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Even with our high fuel price, the weakening rand-dollar exchange rate and falling stock market, one really gets worried about the economic news from Zimbabwe. The inflation rate is 132%. At that rate, all prices double every two and a half years. Last week, Zimbabwe's central bank increased its lending rate from 80% to 200%. Officially, the Zim dollar trades at 352 for one US dollar; in the parallel market, it is 600 for 1.

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

Selfs met ons hoë brandstofprys en die rand en die beurs wat val, skrik mens vir die ekonomiese nuus uit Zimbabwe. Die inflasiekoers is 132%. Teen daardie koers verdubbel alle pryse elke twee en ʼn half jaar. Verlede week het Zimbabwe se sentrale bank hulle uitleenkoers verhoog van 80% tot 200%. Amptelik verhandel die Zim dollar teen 352 vir een Amerikaanse dollar en in die swartmark is die 600 vir 1.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Between the load shedding and fuel price increases, it is tough going for the economy. Outa says that consumers are at an economic breaking point, the UDM wants to talk about a workable solution to the power crisis and Saai and AgriSA are concerned about the impact that rising input costs and consumers who are struggling will have on the agricultural sector. Solutions are proposed, but few of them explain the costs involved.

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

Tussen die beurtkrag en brandstofprysverhogings gaan dit rof met die ekonomie. Outa sê dat verbruikers is by ekonomiese breekpunt, die UDM wil oor ʼn werkbare oplossing vir die kragkrisis praat en Saai en AgriSA is bekommerd oor die impak wat stygende insetkoste en verbruikers wat swaar kry, op die landbousektor gaan hê. Daar word ook oplossings voorgestel, maar min van hulle verduidelik die koste daaraan verbonde.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

With stage 6 load shedding and 95-octane petrol at R26.74 per liter, many people are wondering, where will the bad news end? Economists typically make forecasts about such things and over the past week, PWC's macro-scenarios report has given us some insight into how the forecasts are made.

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

Met fase-6 beurtkrag en 95-oktaan petrol op R26,74 per liter wonder baie mense, waar gaan die slegte nuus einde kry? Ekonome maak vooruitskattings oor sulke dinge en die afgelope week het PWC se makro-scenarios verslag vir ons bietjie insig gee in hoe die voorspellings gemaak word.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.

Fase-6 beurtkrag is nog met ons en daar is baie berigte oor die impak daarvan op die ekonomie. Dit is seker dat dit die groei van die ekonomie aan bande lê. Presies hoe skadelik dit is, is nie maklik om te bepaal nie, maar hier is ʼn kort opsomming van wat ekonome dink.

* Die Ekonomie Minuut word ondersteun deur die NWU Sakeskool.