Die ekonomie minuut

Economists like to say that incentives matter and over the past week there have been two examples of carrots and sticks in the news that the government hopes will encourage South Africans to do the right things. The carrot was that the R100 grocery voucher that people over 60 can get if they go for a Covid-19 jab, is being extended to people over 50. The stick is that NSFAS is in consultation to set a 75% progress requirement for financial aid to students.

Randaksepbank en die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek het gister aangekondig dat hulle sakevertroue-indeks onveranderd gebly het vanaf die derde na die vierde kwartaal, op 43 punte. ʼn Telling onder 50 beteken dat sakelui bedruk is oor ekonomiese vooruitsigte.

Rand Merchant Bank and the Bureau of Economic Research's announced yesterday that their business confidence index remained unchanged from the third to the fourth quarter, at 43 points. A score below 50 means that CEOs are worried about economic prospects.

As mens gewonder het hoe sterk die buitelandse kragte is wat inwerk op die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie hoef jy net na die rand-dollar wisselkoers te kyk. Die rand het oor die laaste maand verswak van R14,72 per dollar na R15,81 gister. Verskeie faktore speel ʼn rol, maar dit lyk of die rand onder druk gaan wees vir die afsienbare toekoms.

If you have been wondering how strong the external forces are that are affecting the South African economy, you only need to look at the rand-dollar exchange rate. The rand weakened over the last month from R14.72 per dollar to R15.81 yesterday. Several factors play a role, but it seems that the rand will be under pressure for the foreseeable future.

Ons almal weet maar te goed dat voedselpryse hierdie jaar skerp gestyg het. Die impak hiervan op huishoudings verskil soos wat mense se inkopiemandjies verskil. Die verbruikersprysindeks kyk na die gemiddelde huishouding waar voedsel 15% van totale besteding beloop. Daar is ander benaderings wat spesifiek op arm huishoudings fokus. Die Buro vir Voedsel- en landboubeleid, afgekort BFAP in Engels, publiseer ʼn Thrifty Healthy Food Basket maatstaf. Bly ingeskakel vir meer hieroor.

We all know all too well that food prices have increased sharply this year. The impact of this on households depends people's shopping baskets. The consumer price index looks at the average household where food accounts for 15% of total spending. There are other approaches that focus specifically on poor households. The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, or BFAP, publishes a Thrifty Healthy Food Basket measure. Learn more about it here.

Verlede week het ek net gepraat oor inflasie en die Reserwebank se repokoersbesluit en van die ander ekonomiese nuus afgeskeep. Hier is ʼn kans om vinnig in te haal.

Last week, I only talked about inflation and the Reserve Bank's repo rate decision and some other economic news fell by the wayside. Here's a chance to catch up fast.

Die Monetêre beleidskomittee van die Reserwebank het gister aangekondig dat die repokoers verhoog word met 25 basispunte, of te wel tot 3,75%. Die primakoers styg dus tot 7,25%. Die verklaring hiervoor het nie almal tevrede gestel nie.

(moes hulle maar gesê het hulle verdedig nou die middelpunt van die teikenband?)