insert_link Business / Economics 24 October 2024 Biz News: Coastal Tourism Thrives Amidst Global Economic Shifts: A Look at September 2024’s Key Developments in Namibia and Beyond In September 2024, the coastal region witnessed a remarkable surge in tourism activity, achieving an impressive occupancy rate of 74.45%, the highest recorded in the country. This growth has been attributed to a variety of social, sporting, and leisure events, such as annual marathons and regional festivals, according to The Brief publication. The influx of visitors not only boosted local businesses but also underscored the region's potential as a vibrant […] today24 October, 2024
insert_link Africa Angola extends cash tranfer for low-income families Angola will extend a cash-transfer program for low-income families as a weaker currency and sky-high inflation continue to drive up living costs in the oil-producing country. Bloomberg reports the Kwenda program will run until 2029, following the recent approval by the World Bank of an additional $400 million loan, President João Lourenço said in a speech Tuesday. The project, the first of its kind in Angola, began in 2020 to […] today16 October, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Bank of Namibia reduces repo rate to 7.25%, offering relief to consumers The Bank of Namibia has announced a 25 basis point reduction in the repo rate, bringing it down to 7.25 percent. This decision follows an extensive review of domestic, regional, and global economic conditions. Speaking at the monetary policy announcement, BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab emphasized the need to moderate monetary restrictions due to slowing economic growth and declining inflation. "Domestic economic activity rose during the first eight months of 2024, […] today16 October, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics FNB Namibia expects inflation to reach 4.7% in September FNB Namibia expects headline inflation to increase to 4.7% year-on-year in September from 4.4% in August, mainly driven by rising food and non-alcoholic beverage prices because of the ongoing drought, while transport costs continue to decline. Core inflation is expected to slightly decrease from 3.8% in August to 3.7% in September. This small drop suggests that, even though overall inflation might temporarily rise, inflationary pressures in the economy are gradually […] today2 October, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s central bank cuts interest rates South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago has announced that the Monetary Policy Committee has decided to reduce the country's repo rate by 25 basis points to 8%. The announcement comes a day after SA’s inflation was reported at 4.4-percent in August, lower than the Reserve Bank's target of 4.5-percent. It is expected that the rate will also be lowered at the bank's next meeting in November. today19 September, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics SA’s inflation sinks below reserve bank target South Africa’s consumer inflation has dipped below the SA Reserve Bank's key target of 4.5%, cooling to 4.4% in August from 4.6% in July. News24 reports that this should seal the deal for an interest rate cut on Thursday. Economists expect a 25 basis-point cut following a meeting of the MPC on Thursday. Another cut of the same size is expected in November. today18 September, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Food and housing drive inflation The annual inflation rate was 4.4% in August, down from 4.7% in August 2023. Monthly inflation increased to 0.3% from 0.2% in the previous month. Key contributors to inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, each contributing 1%. Namibia Statistics Agency spokesperson, Mirjam Shihepo. today10 September, 2024
insert_link Africa Over 31 Million Nigerians Face Acute Food Shortages Amid Security Challenges and Subsidy Removal The Nigerian government reported that over 31.8 million Nigerians are facing acute food shortages due to ongoing security issues and the removal of fuel subsidies, according to CNBCAfrica. This figure marks a significant rise from the 18.6 million reported by the U.N. World Food Programme in late 2023. The worsening crisis has led to increased malnutrition, especially among women and children. today29 August, 2024
insert_link Africa Ethiopia’s bold economic reforms target stability and growth, but they come with risks By Tsegay Tekleselassie, Wellesley College Ethiopia’s recent macroeconomic reforms, supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, could have profound implications for the country and the region. The key reforms include the use of a floating exchange rate system and of interest rates as a policy tool. They were introduced just ahead of the approval of a financial package that could eventually amount to about […] today19 August, 2024
