
Salaries in SA on the rise … with more GOOD news to come
Better still, South Africans' disposable income in general has improved, following three months' of moderation. The latter is thanks, in part, to lower inflation rates and declining interest rates. As such, BankservAfrica says average take-home pay in June 2025 increased to R17 310. This figure is notably up on 2024's equivalent figure. You can give the stokvel a rest, as salaries in SA show encouraging improvement. Image: File
Impressively, average salaries in SA of R17 310, are some R1 800 higher per month than they were at the same time last year (R15 514), reports BusinessTech . BankservAfrica says a moderation in consumer inflation (CPI) has also had a positive impact on the purchasing power of South African consumers.
In fact, the past year has been the best since 2015, with salaries in SA increasing by 1.5%. Better still, further indicators suggest that the average salary increase could crest 5% by the end of 2025. Furthermore, the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) says a favourable inflation environment may also create further room to cut interest rates. All goods things for struggling South Africans. Earn more, spend more, this is the secret sauce the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) hopes will boost the economy. Image: File
Improved salaries in SA in 2025 are providing relief to indebted consumers and boosting the economy, too. Indicators from Stats SA show that retail sales have improved in the first five months of the year, by 4.3%. However, economists stress that the year is still potentially vulnerable from a geopolitical, global trade, and tariff war point of view.
Uncertainty between the United States and South Africa over the tariff landscape from today, Friday 1 August 2025, represents a growing concern for the economy's trade outlook. It is therefore of utmost importance that government prioritises diplomatic engagement with the US. Doing so could avert potential job losses in the automotive and agriculture sectors.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


eNCA
5 hours ago
- eNCA
Study identifies eight policies to alleviate poverty
TSHWANE - In the face of economic hardships, South Africans head to economic hubs like Gauteng in search of greener pastures. WATCH | Poverty crisis in SA's economy Poverty is also high in the in province. A new study has identified eight policies that can help the country's economic hub reduce poverty.

The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
What the SARB rate cut means for traders
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has cut interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the repo rate to 7% and the prime lending rate to 10.50%, marking a key shift in its monetary policy stance after months of tightening and holding. For investors and traders, this move signals renewed support for growth and a more accommodative approach to managing inflation, according to CFI Financial Group, a leading global online trading provider. A rate cut often reflects growing confidence that inflation is under control, while also recognising the need to stimulate spending and investment amid a fragile global backdrop. 'A rate cut of this nature tells us the SARB sees room to boost the economy without risking runaway inflation,' says Zihaad Israfil, CEO of CFI Financial Group South Africa. 'For traders, this is a signal to re-evaluate strategies, particularly in growth-sensitive sectors and currency markets.' With borrowing costs reduced, confidence in risk assets like equities typically improves. Sectors tied to domestic consumption and infrastructure often benefit, while the weaker rand—frequently a by-product of lower rates—can create volatility and opportunity in forex markets. For those tracking pairs like USD/ZAR or assessing momentum on the JSE, market sentiment is likely to shift in the coming days.


The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Weekly economic wrap: all about the tariffs
The week had good and bad news for South Africans with a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate but a US tariff of 30%. It was a busy economic week, but everybody agrees that everything else was overshadowed by the latest US tariff announcement from the White House, which slapped a 30% tariff on South Africa that will apply from 7 August. Tracey-Lee Solomon, an economist at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), says the unanimous decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7%, bringing the prime rate to 10.5%, was also important. Then the White House announced its sweeping new trade policy in the early hours of Friday morning, with a tariff of 30% for South Africa. This had an immediate effect on commodity prices and the rand. Solomon says Brent crude traded above $73 a barrel after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Indian exports and penalties for its Russian oil purchases, she says. 'Trump also warned of tariffs on Moscow unless a swift truce in Ukraine is reached, potentially triggering secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian crude. This move would likely result in more demand for non-Russian crude, lifting prices.' 'The rand weakened by 2.8% against the US dollar, weighed down by broad dollar strength and South Africa's failure to secure a more favourable trade deal with the US, which likely added to negative sentiment.' ALSO READ: US tariff of 30%: Rand weakest in 3 months, thousands of jobs in danger US Fed, in middle of US tariff chaos, did not change repo rate Bianca Botes, director at Citadel Global, says at the centre of the chaos stood the US Federal Reserve, which held rates unchanged at 4.25% to 4.5%. 'The South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) delivered a 25 basis point cut. This was not a bold or symbolic move by the Sarb; just necessary.' She also noted that gold prices consolidated near $3,292/ounce, ending the week 2% softer after the stellar dollar run although support persisted for gold as a defensive asset, despite the selloff this week, as central banks and safe haven seekers continue to find security in its glimmer. 'Brent crude remained above $71/barrel, supported by anticipation of new trade agreements and supply constraints, including tightening conditions in the diesel market. Risks from potential new tariffs and weak consumer data in some major economies capped stronger gains.' Busisiwe Nkonki and Isaac Matshego, economists at the Nedbank Group Economic Unit, also believe the rand came under renewed pressure after the US tariff announcement that he would impose a further 10% import tariff on the Brics countries and any other economy aligned with the grouping. ALSO READ: Repo rate cut not a surprise but very welcome Reserve Bank lowers repo rate to 7% as expected Damian Maart, an economist at the BER, says, as expected, the MPC decided to lower the repo rate by 25 basis points in a unanimous decision that brings the repo rate to 7% and the prime rate to 10.5%. 'A key takeaway from the MPC press conference was the announcement that future MPC decisions would be anchored around the lower bound of the 3-6% target band. Sarb governor Lesetja Kganyago noted that this was not an official change in the target, as it would mandate approval from the National Treasury. 'June consumer inflation was in line with the preferred rate, but the Sarb expects inflation to pick up over the next few months. Looking ahead, the Sarb's Quarterly Projection Model based on the newly adopted 3% target suggests five more cuts over the medium term, although the MPC is not beholden to the 3% inflation target. Nkonki and Matshego say ultimately the interest rate path will depend on how quickly the Sarb can calibrate inflation expectations and price setting throughout the economy around the lower target. Mamello Matikinca-Ngwenya, Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, Thanda Sithole, and Koketso Mano, economists at FNB, say the MPC statement had few surprises. 'This repo rate cut highlighted the MPC's ability to focus on local dynamics given the limited impact of global volatility on the rand and, by extension, monetary policy.' ALSO READ: Good news for GDP: Manufacturing PMI reaches above 50 points, but employment levels still weak Producer price picked up in June According to Statistics SA, the producer price index (PPI) increased by 0.6% in June, up from 0.1% in May. The uptick was primarily driven by higher producer prices for food, beverages, and tobacco products, which increased by 4% and contributed 1.2 percentage points to overall producer inflation. In contrast, prices for coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products declined by 4.7%, subtracting 1%. On a monthly basis, PPI rose by 0.2% in June. Nkonki and Matshego say the PPI outcome was slightly lower than their forecast of 0.8% but aligned with the market's expectations. 'The main driver of the rise was the 'food, beverages and tobacco products category, which rose by 4% with upward pressure coming from meat prices. Elsewhere, price pressures remained relatively subdued or fell further.' Matikinca-Ngwenya, Mkhwanazi, Sithole and Mano say they expect producer inflation to gradually rise in the second half of 2025 but remain benign, averaging around 1.2% this year.