We take a look at the net job gains for the United States as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and while 7.4 million jobs were gained in the first quarter of 2018 in the USA, it also lost 6.7 million jobs leaving a net gain of 740 000 jobs
We take a look at South Africa's latest wholesale trade sales and find that while it showed strong year on year growth in August and September 2018 its average growth since the start of 2016 has basically been 0%
While the consumers in the above picture might look happy, South African retail sales is struggling, with seasonally adjusted and inflation adjusted retail sales only growing 1.14% from September 2017 to September 2018.
We take a look at the 3rd quarter earnings report from Macy's, And according to us the share price is overvalued and we will not be surprised to see it pull back from its current level of $37 dollars a share.
We take a look at the full year results of the SPAR group and find that their turnover passed the R100billion for the financial year. Yet profit attributable to shareholders were just R1.8 billion. Leaving a paper thin net profit margin of 1.8%
We take a look at the 3rd quarter results of The Home Depot, the biggest home improvement retailer in the world, with a market capital of R2.9 trillion its market capital is over 80% the size of South Africa's GDP.
We take a look at the South African consumer price index (CPI) and plot various categories within the CPI on a horizon map to track the price movements of the various categories over time.
We take a look at the interim financial results of listed cellular service provider Vodacom. And based on the numbers from South Africa data charges now makes up around a third of the group's revenue in South Africa.
We take a look at the interim financial results for the period ending September 2018 for one of South Africa's biggest clothing and fashion groups, The Foshini group, that owns brands such as Due South, Sportscene, Markhams, Fabiani to name but a few.
We take a look at the interim results of listed construction firm Stefanutti Stocks. And according to the group they are struggling get funds for work done from the South Africa, Zambian and Nigerian governments
We take a look at the interim results of Finbond, and we are worried about the fact that they increased their provisions for impairments by 22% to close to R1.5billion from February 2018. To us its a clear sign that their clients are struggling to pay back their loans.
We compare the performance of the Dow Jones industrial average with the performance of the JSE industrial average. And the Dow Jones has been a lot kinder to its investors than the JSE industrial average has been to its investors.
South Africa's manufacturing industry is currently using 81% of its total production capacity, and the main reason sighted for not running at full c capacity is a lack of demand for goods. Showing just how weak South Africa's economy is.
We take a look at South Africa's trade with both South and North Korea and find that while loads of sanctions are in place against the reclusive North Korea, there is some trade taking place with them. But nothing near the amount of trade taking place with South Korea.
We take a look at the price paid per kilogram of crude oil imported and compare it to the petrol price over time, and find that there is a big divergence. And the divergence is due to the South African government's continued increases on fuel levies and other taxes placed on fuel.
We take a look at the South African Reserve Bank, Monetary Policy Review presentation and find that the monetary policy stance has become a lot more hawkish in the last couple of months.
We take a look at the interim results of car tracking group, Cartrack, and find while they are growing exceptionally fast, we are worried that they are funding such growth with debt
Famous Brands (FBR) announced that they taking a post tax write off of R760million on their UK business Gourmet Burger Kitchen. Basically saying its worth about 38% less than what they originally paid for it.
South Africans are only recycling about 10% of waste generated. The other 90% ends up in landfills. And South Africa roughly generates 1 tonne of waste per person per year.
Rooibos tea prices are increasing a lot faster than that of Ceylon/black tea or instant/ ground coffee in South Africa. The drought played a significant role it seems.
