ON THE EDGE: COST OF LIVING INCREASES MAKE IT HARD TO COVER BASICS By Ina Opperman The middle class is the group most in danger of being pushed over the poverty line due to the impact of frightening cost of living increases Middle-income consumers spend up to 80% of their monthly salary within five days […]
By Ina Opperman The highest petrol price yet will increase prices of all goods, push up inflation and cause financial devastation for consumers. With 95-octane petrol costing to a staggering R21.60 per litre and 93-octane R21.35 this month, the future looks bleak for consumers who already live on their salaries month-to-month. Low-income consumers will also […]
19 million credit- active citizens appear to be in financial duress. Inquiries about debt counselling have increased as more than 19 million credit-active South Africans appeared to be over-indebted and the official unemployment rate reached a record high of 32.6% in the first quarter of 2021. Statistics released earlier this year by the SA Human […]
Fiscal deficit: Mboweni may increase taxes Danger of consumers using fuel price decrease as an excuse to start spending. he recent fuel price drop that was favoured by the good performance against the US dollar could be undermined by a tax increase, come from Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s mid-term budget, and the possibility that ratings […]
Privatisation of Eskom vital to restoring the SA economy If the utility struggles to produce power for basic needs, it will leave SA unable to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the economy in tatters. Eskom’s failure to produce adequate electricity supply could leave South Africa at the bottom of the food chain when […]
Consumers are in for a tough time Most consumers cut out luxuries from their spending some time ago. They will also have to start cutting on basic necessities just to stay alive. Although the petrol price is only expected to rise by about 7 cents a litre in June, with diesel likely to increase by […]
South Africans are taking out debt for food Imagine taking out debt for food. This has become a horrid reality for South Africans. Many consumers are in debt in a floundering economy. Some are even taking out debt just to feed themselves and their families. The rising petrol price is affecting consumers even more. Motorists […]
Government and Eskom debt is huge, ratings downgrade likely – Debt Rescue. Government corruption and mismanagement are to blame for the dire situation consumers face due to the fuel and electricity increase implemented this week. Experts said the electricity hike on Monday and petrol hike yesterday would hit consumers and businesses hard. They predicted that […]
Another fuel price drop may only be a temporary reprieve. The country may start the new year positively with a fuel price decrease scheduled for tomorrow, but a tough year is awaiting South Africans, with a series of price hikes that may send the economy into a tailspin. Investors will not jump to invest after […]
The fact that the government has by artificial means supported the fuel price to keep it well below the 23c-25c a litre that had been expected will come back to haunt consumers in months to come says economist Dawie Roodt. “There is a set formula that the energy department and economists use to calculate the […]