Consumers fear they are running out of financial breathing room
A Debt Rescue survey suggests many households have little capacity left to absorb higher borrowing costs, adding to concerns about rising food, fuel, and electricity expenses.
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Fuel pushed May inflation higher, but the policy-rate outlook has shifted
The SARB still faces risks, although lower oil prices and improving supply expectations point to a less threatening inflation path than three weeks ago.
Green shoots emerge, but can South Africa build on them?
Signs of recovery are emerging across the economy, yet questions remain about whether the momentum can survive global uncertainty.
Salary growth steadied in Q1 – but pressure on pay may lie ahead
Inflation has already erased recent gains, and higher fuel costs risk deepening the squeeze on household budgets.
Debt pressure shifts up the income ladder despite rate relief
DebtBusters data shows repayments still swallow most take-home pay, with pressure shifting upwards to higher earners and credit thinning out for lower-income households.
NCR signals tougher affordability enforcement as vehicle finance risks mount
Lenders and dealers should dig deeper into living costs, dependants, and insurance obligations to avoid stretching consumers beyond their means.
Sanlam: clients need advisers’ counsel in a more fragmented world
Global shocks may be getting harder to forecast, and the real task is constructing portfolios that can withstand a wider range of outcomes.
‘At least one’ rate hike likely if inflation worsens
Fuel-price shocks, sticky services inflation, and global pressures are making it harder for the SARB to keep inflation anchored near its new goal, says Sanlam.
South Africa’s new inflation target gets its first big test
The Reserve Bank is not ruling out more rate tightening after successive fuel price jumps have revived inflation risks.
SARB revises near-term inflation higher, shifts rate bias amid oil shock
Baseline inflation is seen peaking at 4% in Q2, with scenario analysis pointing to possible rate hikes if second-round effects emerge.
How your investments fared in a volatile first quarter
A sharp market sell-off triggered by the Middle East conflict dented first-quarter returns, but local shares, bonds and property still posted strong 12-month gains.
Energy shock shifts rate outlook and raises stagflation risk
A Middle East-driven energy surge is reshaping inflation, interest rate expectations, and portfolio positioning, with direct implications for South Africa.
Rising oil prices complicate South Africa’s inflation outlook
After attacks disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, crude prices spiked sharply – raising the prospect of higher fuel costs and renewed inflation pressure locally.
SARB moves to scrap prime rate as loan reference benchmark
The central bank’s consultation paper outlines a structured transition to policy-rate-based lending, with fallback protections for legacy contracts.
Interest rate relief offers breathing space, not a turnaround in household finances
Despite easing inflation and lower borrowing costs, South Africans entering debt counselling use 71% of take-home pay to service debt, according to DebtBusters.
What phasing out the prime lending rate means for consumers
The shift from prime to a repo-plus model won’t cut your debt overnight, but it promises more transparent lending.
Digital payments surge as Black Friday spending rebounds
Data from Discovery Bank and PayInc shows surging online activity, high volumes and cautious but recovering consumer spend this Black Friday.
