ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: Stronger manufacturing data expected this week
Manufacturing, gold and foreign exchange data and Sacci’s business confidence index will shed light on the economy this week, writes Asha Speckman
June manufacturing production will be the highlight of economic data due to be released this week as it is likely to shed light on the economy’s overall performance during the second quarter. The sector has battled difficult trading conditions recently given international trade wars, continued domestic political uncertainty, higher fuel prices and some electricity disruption. The Absa purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for June disappointed by sliding to 47.9 points, from 49.8 points previously. Economists have forecast an improvement in the sector’s performance. Elize Kruger, a senior economist at NKC African Economics, has predicted a 0.5% seasonally adjusted rise from May to June from 1.5% previously, but a 2.5% year-on-year increase, not seasonally adjusted, from 2.3% previously. This suggested that production recovered in June "given resilient growth in our trading partners despite trade war concerns, as well as the weaker rand in recent months probably supporting export orders f...
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