In yesterday's Minute I explained that there is good news about consumer confidence and about the construction sector, indicating that the economy is recovering. Today, data on wholesale trade and motor trade sales show that the recovery may not be as fast or as strong as we are hoping.

Economists are looking everywhere for signs of economic recovery and this week there has been good news on consumer confidence and on the construction sector.

Ekonome kyk oral na tekens van die herstel van die ekonomie en hierdie week was daar al goeie nuus oor verbruikersvetroue en oor die konstruksie-sektor.

A few episodes ago I explained that economists see pent-up demand as one of the major drivers of economic growth in 2021. New data on household savings shows how large that demand may be.

Ek het so paar episodes gelede verduidelik dat ekonome sien opgehoopte, of uitgestelde vraag as een van die groot dryfvere van ekonomiese groei in 2021. Nuwe data oor huishoudings se spaargeld wys nou groot daardie vraag kan wees.

Network24 reported yesterday that Pick ‘n Pay has reached an agreement with the Competition Commission to not increase profit margins on garlic and ginger. This is good news for consumers, but not for the functioning of the market.

Netwerk24 het gister berig dat Pick ‘n Pay ʼn ooreenkoms met die Mededingingskommissie bereik het om nie winsgrense op knoffel en gemmer te verhoog nie. Dit is goeie nuus vir verbruikers, maar nie vir die werking van die mark nie.

If you are a regular listener, you will know that The Economics Minute is not a markets report. There are good reasons for that...

As jy gereeld luister sal jy weet dat Die Ekonomie Minuut is nie ʼn markte verslag nie. Daar is goeie redes daarvoor...

I've talked before about research that economists do on the best ways to help the poor - specifically with social grants.