interest rateslatest news & developments
Risk response: When single women dominate the first-time buyer market in a country with chronic unemployment and rising living costs it tells us that traditional safety nets have failed. Photo: Freepik/AI

Single women lead home buying

Many of them buy for control over their own lives and protection rather than prestige. That’s worrying

  • Eyaaz
5 min read
The South African Reserve Bank is likely to hold interest rates unchanged

Reserve Bank likely to leave interest rates unchanged on Thursday

Despite the global environment becoming less tense since the March meeting, the central bank will remain cautious, economists say

  • Aarti Bhana
3 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

April consumer inflation edges higher to 2.8% year-on-year

April’s slight uptick suggests that the Reserve Bank will keep the benchmark repo rate at 7.5% next week

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

Inflation eases to 2.7% year-on-year in March

The South African Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut interest rates next month, because of inflationary pressures that lie ahead

  • Aarti Bhana
1 min read
Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

Consumer inflation ticks up for third straight month as Stats SA adjusts basket

The South African Reserve Bank has warned of an upside risk to the inflation outlook

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Reserve Bank cuts repo rate to 7.5%

This was despite the central bank highlighting upside risks to the inflation outlook

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
The South African Reserve Bank is likely to hold interest rates unchanged

Reserve Bank expected to cut rates by 25 basis points this week

A third consecutive interest rate cut will help stimulate the economy, but the central bank will also be cautious about inflation pressures

  • Aarti Bhana
4 min read
Many railway lines are underutilised or abandoned, with over 30% of Africa’s rail infrastructure inoperable.

Economy 2025: A GNU hope, but ports, rail and water crisis likely to hinder growth

The country’s ports and rail systems are shambolic, but GNU and a pause in load-shedding have elicited some optimism

  • Aarti Bhana
7 min read
Consumers should spend cautiously, despite the positive outlook for the year (Getty Images)

Personal finance: sustainable budgeting tips to stretch your money in 2025

Consumers should spend cautiously, despite the positive outlook for the year

  • Eyaaz
5 min read
Gold prices have surged by more than 30% in 2024, repeatedly hitting record highs as global economic uncertainty drives demand for the precious metal. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

South Africa risks missing out on gold price surge due to structural challenges in mining sector

Prices have increased by over 30%, favouring gold-producing countries like South Africa, but structural issues are dampening opportunities This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Aarti Bhana
1 min read
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

Reserve Bank cuts repo rate to 8%

This comes as inflation eased to 4.4% in August, below the midpoint of the Reserve Bank’s 3-6% target band

  • Aarti Bhana
4 min read
Consumers are spending more than 40% of their disposable income on repaying debt, survey shows. (Getty Images)

South African households under R2.5 trillion debt stress

Consumers are spending more than 40% of their disposable income on repaying debt, survey shows

  • Eyaaz
8 min read
Despite unemployment rates, Gen Z has found a way to make ends meet.

Inflation eases in June to lowest rate this year

Statistics South Africa data released on Wednesday showed that the CPI annual rate was 5.1% in June compared with 5.2% in May This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
Lesetja Kganyago. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Reserve Bank hold repo rate steady despite inflation pressures

Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the central bank would wait for the inflation rate to fall within its 3% to 6% target before it makes a cut

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
Despite unemployment rates, Gen Z has found a way to make ends meet.

Inflation holds firm in May

Still-sticky inflation could further delay long-awaited interest rate cuts

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

Reserve Bank holds repo rate

Delivering the unanimous decision, central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago cited a still uncertain global outlook This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Explainer: How the Reserve Bank decides on interest rates

Movements in headline inflation are a key indicator, but decisions are also influenced by central banks around the world, especially the US Federal Reserve

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read

South Africa rate cuts on hold: What borrowers need to know

Some strategies for financial resilience

  • Derek Davey
3 min read
The uncertainty created by the possibility of a coalition government is putting people off big-price buys

Property sales slow ahead of poll

The uncertainty created by the possibility of a coalition government is putting people off big-price buys

  • Eyaaz
6 min read
The South African Reserve Bank is likely to hold interest rates unchanged

Disinflation uncertainty could push interest rate cuts to 2025

The US Federal Reserve’s ‘higher for longer’ stance and local election jitters have weighed on the rand, adding to price pressures This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

  • Eyaaz
1 min read