Sign in Subscribe

Economics

South African Manufacturing PMI Falls to 40.5 in December, Steepest Contraction Since April 2020

JOHANNESBURG, 8 January 2026. South Africa's seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 40.5 in December 2025 from 42.0 in November, marking the steepest month-on-month contraction in the manufacturing sector since April 2020, according to data published by Absa Bank on Thursday.

Eskom Records 231 Consecutive Load-Shedding-Free Days in 2025, Ending Year Without Interruptions

JOHANNESBURG, 2 January 2026. South Africa's state electricity utility Eskom ended 2025 having recorded 231 consecutive days without implementing load shedding, its longest uninterrupted supply run since 2018, after completing the calendar year with only 26 hours of rotational power cuts, all...

South Africa Ends 2025 With First Rating Upgrade in Two Decades and Over 200 Days Without Load Shedding

JOHANNESBURG, 26 December 2025. South Africa is closing 2025 having recorded its first sovereign credit rating upgrade in approximately 20 years and more than 200 consecutive days without electricity load shedding, marking a turnaround in two of the country's most intractable economic...

South Africa's November Inflation Eases to 3.5%, Remaining Within Reserve Bank's New Target Band

PRETORIA, 17 December 2025. South Africa's consumer price index rose by 3.5% year on year in November 2025, down from 3.6% in October, according to data released by Statistics South Africa on Wednesday, maintaining inflation within the South African Reserve Bank's new point target of 3% plus or...

IMF Sees South Africa Growth Picking Up to 1.3% in 2025 But Warns on Rising Public Debt

WASHINGTON / PRETORIA, 8 December 2025. An International Monetary Fund staff team has estimated South Africa's real GDP growth at 1.3% for 2025, supported by stronger private consumption, and projects growth accelerating to 1.4% in 2026 and reaching 1.8% over the medium term, but warned that...

South Africa's Economy Grows 0.5% in Q3 2025, Marking Fourth Consecutive Quarter of Expansion

PRETORIA, 2 December 2025. South Africa's gross domestic product expanded by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2025 (July-September), according to data released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase in economic activity and providing evidence of a...

Western Cape Records Historic Low Unemployment Rate of 19.7% in Q3 2025

CAPE TOWN, 24 November 2025. The Western Cape province recorded an unemployment rate of 19.7% in the third quarter of 2025, according to data from Statistics South Africa's Quarterly Labour Force Survey, marking the lowest level the province has achieved since the survey adopted its current...