Implications of US inflation data and planned tariffs

Loading player...
In January 2025, US inflation data surprised with a 0.5% m/m increase, pushing up annual inflation to 3%, which is above the 2% target. The details showed some broadening out of price pressures. This makes it likely the US Federal Reserve will hold rates for the next couple of months, which would influence other central banks, including SA.
The US has delayed until March its intended tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, as well as on aluminium and steel. It will also review other areas where US tariffs are lower than those of its trading partners. This is likely to lead to negotiations and will extend uncertainty around global tariffs.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
17 Feb English South Africa Investing · Business News

Other recent episodes

SA economy grows, but not fast enough; US small businesses struggle

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, unpacks SA’s GDP growth and the latest US ADP report on US private sector employment. The local economy grew by an encouraging 2.1% year on year, largely because historical data was revised higher, but he warned this is not a sustainable growth…
8 Dec 10 min

SARB makes cautious 25 bps rate cut but next US rate cut is uncertain

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, considers the factors that are restraining SA’s inflation rate and have influenced the Reserve Bank in cutting the benchmark interest rate by 25 bps at its latest meeting. He also analyses latest US jobs data, which showed an increase in unemployment to…
24 Nov 16 min

Will AI boom become AI bust?

In the seventh episode of our “The More You Know” series, Mark Lovett, STANLIB Head of Investments, shares his experience of other market bubbles to help put the current AI hype into context. He emphasises the need for investors to identify the winners and losers in this new technology wave…
18 Nov 21 min

S&P surprises with positive outlook for SA

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, examines the reasons why S&P decided to revise SA’s credit rating from BB- to BB, while Fitch kept its rating unchanged. SA’s weak GDP growth rate remains a concern for all credit rating agencies but while S&P took a more positive view,…
17 Nov 16 min