May 2020

Key takeaways:

• The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) Business Confidence Index for April 2020 was down 12.1 index points since March 2020.
• The headline inflation rate for March 2020 was 4.1%, with core inflation at 3.7%. The increase in total administered (non-market) prices was 6.8% for that period.
• The growth in money supply — the total value of money available in the economy — in March 2020 was 9.49%, compared to 8.74% in March 2019.
• Equities net purchases/sales by foreigners were at -R32.6 billion for January—April 2020, compared to –R26.7 billion in January—April 2019. Bonds net purchases/sales by foreigners were at –R63.0 billion in January-April 2020, compared to R25.6 billion in January-April 2019.
• The average gold price per ounce for April 2020 was $1 682, compared to $1 287 in April 2019. The average platinum price per ounce was $756 compared to $885 for the same period.
• The crude oil price (brent/barrel) in April 2020 was $18.68, compared to $71.36 in April 2019.
• South Africa recorded a merchandise trade surplus of R12.1 billion for January-March 2020, compared to a trade deficit of R27.0 billion for January- March 2019.
• Vehicles exported were down 35.6% for January-April 2020, compared to January- April 2019. Tractors sold were down 14.3% for the same period.
• The use of manufacturing production capacity for February 2020 was 79.3%, compared to 80.8% in February 2019.
• The number of working days lost to strikes for January to March 2020 stood at just 10 000, compared to 1 060 000 for January to March 2019.

Full Report (PDF)