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APPLICATIONS OPEN Recruitment has opened for the 2026 Economist Internship Programme at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER)) at Stellenbosch University. The programme is in conjunction with the South African Reserve Bank.
We recently hosted a full-day conference on 6 May 2025 in Johannesburg, exploring the broad sweep of South Africa’s economic landscape. The discussions included an update on the domestic economic outlook, an analysis of political-economy risks related to the Government of National Unity (GNU), and an examination of the Trump administration’s intentions toward South Africa. The second half of the programme, featured a deep dive into phase two of Operation Vulindlela. We examined the progress being made with municipal and water reforms and showcased some of the latest research in this field. An exciting lineup of speakers listed below addressed various topical issues. BER Clients can download the presentations available.
RESEARCH NOTE: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that South Africa adopt fiscal rules, and the National Treasury has committed to a process of consultations on fiscal rules, and to release a discussion by the end of March 2025. This research note explores what fiscal rules are and whether they could improve South Africa’s fiscal sustainability and fiscal credibility. It highlights guiding principles and considerations for fiscal rule design and outlines a possible fiscal rule to initially stabilise debt followed by a debt reduction phase.
21.24/litre
20.45/litre
2.8% y-o-y
0.5%
0.8% y-o-y
7.25 %
1.5% y-o-y
-6.3% y-o-y
BER Weekly | 13 June
The FNB/BER Building Confidence Index remained relatively stable in 2025Q1, gaining one point to record a level of 41. The results were mixed in terms of activity but, overall, reflected a sector which saw a slight worsening in current work. Near-term prospects for work, however, are encouraging from both contactors’ own expectation and also from the better activity reported by architects which reflects the building pipeline.
The BER’s Retail Survey revealed business confidence amongst retailers fell by 8 percentage points (%pts) to 42% in 2025Q2, registering a second successive quarterly decline but remaining above the long-term average. This trend suggests a moderation in retail sales growth, particularly as two-pot withdrawal-fuelled spending winds down.
The release calendar will be updated each quarter. Please note that these dates may change.
Wednesday
4 June 2025
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI)
Monday
9 June 2025
FNB/BER Building Confidence Index
Wednesday
18 June 2025
Absa Manufacturing Survey
Thursday
26 June 2025
FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
Monday
23 June 2025
Other Services Survey
Thursday
19 June 2025
Retail Survey
Monday
30 June 2025
FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index
Wednesday
2 July 2025
Inflation Expectations Survey
Thursday
3 July 2025
Building Cost Report (BCIS)
The first working day of each month
Absa PMI
The first working day of each month
Update
The first week of each month
Trends
Every Friday
BER Weekly
The BER Economist Internship Programme provides practical training to appropriately qualified previously disadvantaged individuals. The programme equips trainees to function as economists in the private and/or the public sector.
