NATIONAL NEWS - South Africa’s economy is in a state of “duress” and 2017 growth will fall short of 0.5%, President Jacob Zuma said late on Monday, more bad news in an economy that slid into recession in March.
“The economy is under duress... In the last budget, growth was expected to be 1.3%. It is now expected that it will be below 0.5%,” Zuma said in a speech at an agricultural business conference.
“The weak consumer demand and stagnant business investment in the economy continue to be a challenge,” Zuma said.
South Africa’s central bank unexpectedly cut its benchmark lending rate for the first time in five years on 20 July, citing weak growth. The bank halved its 2017 growth forecast to 0.5%, and trimmed next year’s projection to 1.2%.
The 25 basis points cut to 6.75% was the first reduction in lending rates since July 2012 and ran counter to market consensus that rates would be held steady.
'The economy is under duress'
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