Rate decision hinges on Ramaphosa Presidency, tax hikes, inflation - PwC

Cape Town - Economic analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Maura Feddersen indicates five factors that will determine which way the rate decision could go.

PwC in a statement on Tuesday said that the local economic implications of Cyril Ramaphosa's election as president of the ANC, the Cabinet reshuffle that followed and inflation will likely feature as SARB's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets this week.

Internationally, growing protectionism and developed market monetary policy trends will also be on the radar.

"In January, policymakers decided to keep rates on hold, with only one out of six MPC members favouring a 25 basis point reduction. The MPC has previously warned that the Reserve Bank’s internal modelling guidelines point to at least two interest rate hikes before the end of 2019," said Feddersen. The rate decision is set to be announced on Wednesday March 28.

According to PwC these are the factors that could determine the rates decision:

Inflation stabilises in the middle of the target range

After exceeding the SARB’s target range for most of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, headline inflation rate has been on a downward trend, returning to the target range for the last ten consecutive monthly readings. Headline consumer price inflation declined to 4.4% year-on-year in January, from 4.7% y-o-y in December 2017, which is the lowest reading in three years.

• READ: SA consumer inflation eases to 4%

The decline in January’s annual inflation rate was associated with a reprieve in transport costs. Transport costs declined between December and January, falling 0.4% month-on-month.

A 1.3% m-o-m decline in fuel prices followed a noticeable appreciation in the rand exchange rate during the second half of December as financial markets reacted favourably to the election of Ramaphosa as new ANC leader. 

The SARB considers inflationary trends in determining its monetary policy stance – with a stabilisation of inflation towards the middle of the target range the ultimate goal, as previously noted by SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago.

Positive investor sentiment fosters stronger exchange rate

High frequency data suggests business conditions may be recovering. The Standard Bank South Africa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showed improved readings for February 2018, as higher order volumes drove optimism for an upturn in domestic demand - a key countervailing factor, as export growth recently took a dive from the pressure of a stronger currency.

• READ: PMI rises as private sector conditions improve

In tandem with local political developments that were broadly viewed as positive by financial markets, the rand exchange rate appreciated by 17% against the US dollar since mid-November 2017. A stronger exchange rate suggests lower import costs and helps mitigate fuel price inflation.

Recent National Treasury projections estimate economic growth will recover to 1.5% in 2018 on the back of an expected increase in private investment due to improved business and consumer confidence.

The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index increased 11 points in the first quarter of 2018 to a reading of 45 points, reaching the highest level in three years. Nonetheless, the marked improvement in sentiment in the wake of positive political developments was unable to lift the index to net positive territory (above a reading of 50).

Key factors in favour of keeping rates stable for longer

Tax increases to put pressure on prices

In the annual Fiscal Budget speech, then-finance minister Malusi Gigaba announced an increase of one percentage point in value-added tax (VAT) to 15% from April 1.

• READ: South Africans to pay higher VAT for first time in two decades

This will influence the prices of the majority of goods measured by the consumer price index (CPI). Fuel, tobacco and alcoholic beverages, which account for over 10% of the consumer basket, will see further tax hikes. Furthermore, the health promotion levy (“sugar tax”) could add around 10% to the price of sugar-sweetened beverages. 

• READ: Sugary drinks tax a go, plastic bag levy up

As these tax increases take effect from April, consumers will feel the burden of a jump in prices of various goods and services, which will feed through to higher inflationary outcomes in coming months. The MPC is expected to comment on the expected impact of these tax adjustments on inflation results.

Credit rating downgrade still looms

In January, the SARB lowered its inflation projections to 5.2% and 5.5% for 2018 and 2019 respectively, while identifying key upside risks to these projections. The largest risk factor remained the prospect of further sovereign ratings downgrades, which would result in an outflow of capital from the domestic bond market and an accompanied weakening in the rand exchange rate.

• READ: Business, labour confident Moody’s will grant SA a ratings reprieve

If Moody’s Investors Service were to downgrade South Africa’s sovereign debt to below investment grade, the volatility for local bonds and the rand would likely disperse hopes of an interest rate cut. Ratings agency Moody’s, the last major agency to hold South African debt at investment grade, is expected to make its latest announcement by Friday, March 23.

Federal Reserve rate decision

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the US Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points at the conclusion of its policy meeting on Wednesday, March 21.

The Fed’s interest rate statement will be closely watched for any signs as to the pace of US monetary policy tightening for the remainder of the year. At the close of 2017, the Fed indicated three rate hikes for 2018, but a positive assessment of the economy by new chair Jerome Powell fuelled speculation about a faster-than-anticipated pace of US monetary policy tightening.

• READ: Equity markets jittery ahead of Powell's speech

Rapid monetary policy tightening in developed markets can lead to a reallocation of international capital out of emerging markets like South Africa to higher yielding and lower-risk developed markets. The concomitant weakening in the exchange rate raises the risk of imported inflation and would cause the SARB to lean towards a more conservative monetary policy stance. 

PwC concludes that since the January decision, the upside risk to inflation has again become apparent, linked to the increase in VAT and other taxes. Much will hinge on the Moody’s credit rating decision pending towards the end of the week, which will be a factor the MPC will debate at its policy meeting next week.

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