Repo rate remains unchanged

Central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago delivered the announcement, which will not come as a surprise to economists, most of which are reported to have expected the news.The repo rate is the benchmark interest rate at which the Reserve Bank lends money to other banks. Changes in the repo rate affect the prime lending rate, which is the lowest rate at which banks start lending to clients.

The fact that the repo rate has not changed means the prime lending rate will remain at 10%.

At the same briefing, Kganyago also announced a downgrade in growth projection.

Kganyago said the central bank expects GDP growth of 1.2% in 2018, down from its previous estimate of 1.7%.

Regarding growth, he said “the outlook remains constrained.”

SARB expects growth to increase to 1.9% in 2019.

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