BER Login Form


Lost your password? | Register
Login/Register
  • Home
  • About BER
  • Research
  • Media & events
  • Internship programme
  • Contact us
  • COVID-19
  • About us
  • Product offering
  • Meet the team
  • Director
  • Research team
  • Support staff
  • Consulting economists
  • Forecasts
  • BMR Consensus
  • Economic Prospects
  • Economic Outlook
  • Most recent forecasts
  • Update
  • Data
  • BER Forecast Data
  • Snapshot
  • Trends
  • NumBERs
  • Indices
  • Business Confidence Index
  • Consumer Confidence Index
  • Building Confidence Index
  • Civil Confidence Index
  • Purchasing Managers' Index
  • Building Cost Index
  • Research
  • Weekly
  • Comments
  • Research notes
  • Ad-hoc research
  • S.E.E.
  • Stellenbosch Working Paper Series
  • NDP Assessment Report
  • Surveys
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing
  • Building & Construction
  • Inflation Expectations
  • Other Services
  • Method
  • Macroeconomic forecast
  • Business and consumer surveys
  • Inflation Expectations Survey
  • Building Cost Index
  • Release calendar
  • Events
  • Press releases
  • Home
  • About BER
    • About Us
    • Product offering
    • Internship programme
    • Meet the team
  • Research
    • Forecasts
    • Data
    • Indices
    • BER Weekly
    • Surveys
  • Media & events
    • Release Calendar
    • Events
    • Conference Papers
    • Press Releases
  • Contact us
  • COVID-19
Petrol price (Gauteng) = 21.4/litre  Petrol price (Coastal) = 20.75/litre  CPI December '22 = 7.2% y-o-y  PPI manufacturing December '22 = 13.5%  GDP growth Q3 = 4% y-o-y  Prime interest rate = 10.5%  Unemployment rate Q3 = 32.9%  Retail sales November '22 = 0.4% y-o-y  Manufacturing output November '22 = -1.1% y-o-y 
Economic information that works for you

About BER


About us
Meet the team
Product offering

About us


The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) is one of the oldest economic research institutes in South Africa. It was established in 1944 and is part of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at Stellenbosch University. Over the years, the BER has built a local and international reputation for independent, objective and authoritative economic research and forecasting.

The BER team (2022)


BER Staff

Back L-R: Craig Lemboe, Hugo Pienaar, Lesego Chanza, Wayne September, Jaques Davids, Celeste Booysen, Michelle Oosthuizen, Ntombi Bakaqana, Cobus Venter, Lisette IJssel de Schepper & (Lebo Siboyi, not pictured)
Front L-R : George Kershoff (Deputy Director), Sumaiya Sidat, Prof. Johann Kirsten (Director), Shannon Bold, Nicolaas van der Wath, Tracey-Lee Solomon & Helanya Fourie

The Director and Deputy-Director are responsible for the day-to-day running of the institute. The Director reports to the Dean: EMS.

Governance Committee assists and supervises the BER management. The members of the committee are:

Ex officio:

  • Prof Ingrid Woolard Dean of Economic and Management Science (EMS)
  • Prof Johann Kirsten, BER Director
  • Mr George Kershoff, BER Deputy-Director (Secretary)
  • Ms Doris Viljoen, Acting Director of the Institute of Futures Research (IFR)

Appointed by the Dean for 2021-2022:

  • Prof Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer, Stellenbosch University
  • Mr Andrew Donaldson, Former Deputy Director-General: National Treasury and Senior Research Associate, SALDRU, UCT
  • Mr Rudolf Gouws, Previous Chief Economist of RMB
  • Prof Rachel Jafta, Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University
  • Ms Chernay Johnson, Director of Research, DFS Lab
  • Prof Tania Ajam, professor in Public Policy, Economics and Finance at SPL

The BER’s mission and objectives


To independently generate, analyse and disseminate authoritative information on the South African economy in a user-friendly manner.

Through:

  • Rigorous and evidence-based research
  • Attracting and retaining top talent
  • Being sustainable


Primary activities


The BER primarily focuses on the South African macro economy and selected economic sectors. It monitors and forecasts macroeconomic economic and sector trends, and identifies and analyses local and international factors that affect South African businesses.
The organisation has built up and continues to expand its business tendency surveys and macroeconomic forecasting capabilities. Both are used for analysing and projecting South African macroeconomic trends. The BER uses a variety of internationally accepted methodologies and econometric models for the generation and analysis of the data, as well as techniques developed specifically for the unique South African environment. Other activities include commissioned research, courses, conferences and training.

The BER's respected economic analysis and forecasting services are used by a wide range of clients, ranging from small to medium sized firms up to very large JSE listed companies, as well as public sector bodies and NGOs. Financial and investment companies, local and overseas banking groups, multilateral organisations and academic bodies, all make use of the impartial economic information available from the BER.

Funding


Although the BER is part of Stellenbosch University, it has to fully fund all its expenses (such as salaries, a university levy, office rent, travel costs and other) from the sale of forecasts, sponsorships and customised research.

  • Now - 2022
  • 1998 - 1973
  • 1969 - 1944

History and milestones


2022

Winner of the Media24 SA Economist of the Year competition for the first time (awarded for the most accurate macro forecasts during 2021).


2020

The BER releases the Other Services survey results to the public for the first time (the survey was conducted since 2005).


2019

BER launches its first mobile app.

BER celebrates its 75 year anniversary.


2018

The BER takes over the Building Cost Information Service.


2016

Prof Johann Kirsten appointed as Director.


2014

BER celebrates its 70 year anniversary.


  • Tributes paid to the BER at its anniversary:
  • Prof Stan du Plessis, Dean of the Faculty of EMS (click here to read)
  • Prof Eon Smit, chairperson of the BER Management Committee (click here to read)

BER awarded the Reuters Economist of the year award for the fourth time (for 2013).

2012

The BER moves back to Stellenbosch University’s campus.

2009

BER awarded the Reuters Economist of the year award for the third time (for 2008).

2008

A survey of building contractors and civil construction firms registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) was launched. BER won the Reuters Economist of the year award (for 2007).

2006

The Economist Internship Programme for previously disadvantaged individuals commenced.

2003

BER conducted a survey to measure the impact of HIV/Aids on business in South Africa. Asset managers and life insurers were added to round off the Financial Sector Survey.

2002

A Retail and Investment Bank Survey was launched. The BER won the prestigious Reuters Economist of the year award.

2000

The Inflation Expectation Survey launched in South Africa.

1999

BER established itself as a full-scale economic consultancy business/service. The first Purchasing Managers Survey was launched in South Africa.

History and milestones

1998

Prof Ben Smit appointed as Director.

1997

Civil engineers added to the survey panel.

1988

The BER hosted its first conference in Cape Town.

1986

Architects and quantity surveyors were added to the survey panel.

1985

Dr Ockie Stuart appointed as Director.

1983

Prof Attie De Vries appointed as Director. An econometric model of the South African economy was developed to generate macro-economic forecasts.

1981

The first quarterly model was estimated.

1980

The BER develops its first annual model.

1975

Consumer survey launched in South Africa. Refinement of the retail, wholesale and motor trade surveys.

1973

Prof Jan Sadie appointed as Director.

History and milestones

1969

Building contractors and sub-contractors were added to the survey panel and a Building Cost Index was started.

1966

Publication of the first medium-term forecast.

1956

“A survey of post-war economic conditions in the Union of South Africa” was published.

1954

The first business surveys were conducted among manufacturers and retailers. Click here for an example of the very first survey publications (1955).

1953

Research regarding the possibility of conducting a quarterly opinion survey of business conditions in the trade and manufacturing sectors commenced.

1950

Second publication: “Economic Fluctuations in South Africa 1910 – 1949,” by J.C. du Plessis.

1948

First publication “Industrial and Commercial Share price indices in South Africa,” by C.G.W. Schumann and A.E. Scheurkogel. The culmination of a project in which price indices for shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were noted and compiled.

1944

BER founded as an economic research institute attached to the University of Stellenbosch. Prof C.G.W. Schumann was appointed as the first BER Director and along with one researcher and part time assistance from lecturers and students, its work started.

Click here for more information

Home

About BER

About us
Meet the team
Product offering

Research

Forecasts
Data
Indices
Surveys
Research
Method

Media & events

Release calendar
Press Releases
Events

Internship programme

Click to Browse

SSL

Contact us

Terms of use
Privacy policy
Disclaimer
Glossary
Links
FAQ
Designed and powered by POP ® Software from Partner