Tag: inflation

In the challenging economic circumstances that South Africa currently faces, the impact of fiscal responsibility – the balanced use of government spending and tax to influence the economy – on taxpayers, businesses, and the nation's overall economic well-being cannot be overstated.

The rise in life expectancy poses a significant challenge for individuals planning for retirement, necessitating a shift in the approach to financial preparedness. As people live longer, the duration of retirement increases, and with it, the financial demands.

South Africa’s major banks registered resilient growth against difficult operating conditions and a complex macroeconomic environment. Combined headline earnings growth of 13.8% against FY22 to R113.2 billion, combined ROE of 17.6% (FY22: 17.1%), net interest margin of 458 bps (FY22: 430 bps), credit loss ratio of 102 bps (FY22: 82 bps), cost-to-income ratio of 52.2% (FY22: 53%), common equity tier ratio of 13.2% (FY22: 13.5%).

The global economic backdrop continues to improve gradually but great amounts of uncertainty remain. While most of the major central banks are now likely at the peak of their rate hiking cycles, inflation remains sticky and sustained high levels of interest rates are having a dampening impact on economic growth.

The world is in a permanent state of change amid technology, economy, consumer and climate change demands. Although there have been remarkable leaps in automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), company leaders will continue to need highly skilled talent to meet their business needs.

Fifty-two percent of CEOs across Sub-Saharan Africa expect economic growth locally and in their Africa territory (compared to 44% globally) in the next 12 months. At the same time, 50% of these CEOs are feeling more exposed to inflation and macroeconomic volatility (40%).

Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana delivered his Budget Speech 2024 to Parliament and the nation on 21 February 2024. A key announcement was that tax rates will not be increased in 2024/2025, as previously signalled by the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) 2023, to generate the extra R15 billion needed in revenue.

The fourth edition of our report on cross-border tax in Africa explores shifting trends in transfer pricing (TP) – many related to broader taxation themes – and considers what these may mean for multinational entities (MNEs) and revenue authorities.

A rapidly shifting investment landscape, marked by pronounced volatility on a global scale, has made it challenging for investors to navigate some challenging terrains. These challenges are exacerbated for South African investors by domestic issues like load shedding, the current political climate, the shrinking bourse, and soaring inflation, all of which have made investors wary of where they place their hard-earned money.

Affordability is a prime concern for many when it comes to choosing the right medical aid plan. Medical inflation consistently outpaces general inflation, so year after year employees need to balance coverage and cost.