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Appointment of a new BER political analyst The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) at Stellenbosch University is delighted to announce that highly respected political journalist Mrs Natasha Marrian has been appointed as its first ever in-house political analyst. She will assume her duties on 1 January 2026.
ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE OPEN. We’ve enhanced the BER Weekly Review you know and trust with even more expert analysis and forecasting – now called BER Essential Insights. Subscribe today and get trusted updates on key economic events affecting your business.
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.
20.97/litre
20.18/litre
3.6% y-o-y
2.9%
2.1% y-o-y
10.25 %
3.1% y-o-y
0.3% y-o-y
A rise in consumer confidence suggests retail tills will jingle loudly this festive season, as the FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rebounded to -9 index points in the fourth quarter, after falling from -10 to -13 in the third quarter of 2025.
After slipping one index point to 35 in 2025Q3, the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index increased to 43 in 2025Q4. This is, along with 2023Q4, the best reading in a decade and higher than the long-term average for the series of 40. A 21-point increase in sentiment among hardware retailers boosted the composite index. However, the uptick in activity among main contractors, led by residential builders, and activity among architects is also encouraging.
The release calendar will be updated each quarter. Please note that these dates may change.
Wednesday
3 December 2025
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI)
Monday
8 December 2025
FNB/BER Building Confidence Index
Friday
5 December 2025
Absa Manufacturing Survey
Tuesday
9 December 2025
FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
Monday
15 December 2025
Other Services Survey
Thursday
11 December 2025
Retail Survey
Tuesday
6 January 2026
FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index
Friday
12 December 2025
Inflation Expectations Survey
Monday
12 January 2026
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 (Enhanced and Free versions)
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.
