Tag: purchasing power

South Africa's youth are navigating a complex financial landscape. They face high unemployment, limited financial literacy and the rise of digital credit options. As of the first quarter of 2025, the youth unemployment rate (ages 15 - 24) stands at a staggering 62.4%.

Modern monetary theorists argue that nations with monetary sovereignty can never run out of money to fund projects. They can always issue more currency whenever they need it.

Forecasting economic and market variables is inherently difficult. Forecasting is tough. Research suggests that only 23% of professional forecasts prove accurate. Add in US policy uncertainty - President Trump signed a flurry of executive orders on his first day in office. As a result, predicting the outlook for the global economy becomes even more challenging than usual.

Excise taxes on beer have become a contentious issue, raising concerns about their impact on consumers, producers, and the economy. Adjusting tax policies can be challenging, though some amendments are more accepted than others.

In recent years, market uncertainty has become the norm, leaving most investors actively searching for opportunities that offer them stability and long-term growth potential while limiting volatility in the face of constantly shifting economic sands. Against this backdrop, the luxury goods sector has emerged as a compelling investment opportunity for investors.

Inflation is the increase in prices over a specific period and which leads to a reduction in the purchasing power of money. The correlation between inflation and purchasing power is important because sometimes we are fooled into thinking that just because an amount increased, like your salary, your purchasing power remains the same.

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), historically finding its expression in the Currency and Banking Act of 1920, is today premised on section 224(1) of the Constitution. Has the Reserve Bank been acting constitutionally since its legal foundation changed? Has it been protecting the value of the Rand in the interest of balanced and sustainable economic growth as required? How would the Reserve Bank meet its constitutional objective?

It’s that time again, early in the new year, when we are speculating as to what 2022 may hold, in this case for the property part of the South African economy. In a still-weak, albeit improved, economy with rising interest rates, property market fireworks don’t appear to be on the cards this year.

Despite a number of studies confirming that gender-diverse companies perform better, gender equality and lack of inclusiveness remain a paramount issue in the IT world, and women are still significantly underrepresented in tech. Even though the situation is improving, the gender gap in the IT industry is still prominent.

Bouts of market volatility may be unsettling but they are an unavoidable feature of long-term investing. The important thing is to avoid making mistakes along the way. These investment guidelines hold true for any environment, but they’re particularly useful to keep in mind during times of extreme volatility.