1. Where can I find information on inflation targeting and monetary policy? For monetary policy information, please log on to our website, http://www.reservebank.co.za. Click on SARB activities, then on Monetary policy on the sub-menu. You will be taken to a page with links containing information related to the South African Reserve Bank monetary policy and the Monetary Policy Committee (Monetary Policy Committee members, statements, meeting dates, and the Monetary Policy Reviews).
Click on SARB Activities
Then click on Monetary Policy.
Click on links to access Monetary Policy information (Monetary Policy Review, Monetary policy statements, Inflation targeting, Monetary Policy Committee Members, Monetary Policy Committee meeting dates and Monetary Policy Forum meeting dates).
2. Where can I find more information about the South African Reserve Bank, inflation, interest rates and the Bank’s functions? For further information on some frequently asked questions for learners and students, please log on to our website, http://www.reservebank.co.za. On the left frame of the home page, click on About Us, then on Fact sheets on the sub-menu that will appear. On the main page, are a series of information leaflets covering frequently asked questions that is targeted at (but not limited to) students and learners. Their order is such: Number 1 Introduction to the South African Reserve Bank Number 2 Why is inflation bad?
Number 3 How to fight inflation Number 4 Exchange rates and exchange control Number 5 Management of gold and foreign exchange reserves Number 6 Factors leading to the founding of the South African Reserve Bank Number 7 National government debt Number 8 Interest rates and how they work Number 9 The South African Reserve Bank’s system of accommodation Number 10 The Bank Supervision Department 3. Where can I find current and historical inflation rates on the South African Reserve Bank’s website? For historical CPI (or CPIX) figures. please log on to our website, http://www.reservebank.co.za. On the right hand side of the home page are four boxes with economic indicators, namely, the inflation rate, interest rates, the exchange rate and the nominal effective exchange rate. In the inflation rate box, click on CPI (or CPIX) and you will be taken to the Statistics South Africa webpage with historical CPI (or CPIX) figures in downloadable pdf format.
Click on CPIX or CPI to access historical inflation data.
Click on either Repo or Prime to access historical interest rate data (as well as dates of change).
4. Where can I find current and historical interest rates (the repo rate and prime overdraft rates) on the Reserve Bank’s website? For historical interest rate statistics, please log on to our website, http://www.reservebank.co.za. On the right hand side of the home page are four boxes with economic indicators, namely, the inflation rate, interest rates, the exchange rate and the nominal effective exchange rate, respectively. In the interest rates box, click on either Repo or Prime and on the next page, you will be given an option to view historical changes in the repurchaser (repo) rate or changes in the prime overdraft rate offered by banks. (See diagram on number 3) 5. Where can I find papers published by the South African Reserve Bank for research purposes? Various publications by the South African Reserve Bank can be found on our website. These include Working Papers, Occasional Papers, the South African Reserve Bank Quarterly Bulletin, Quarterly Bulletin Articles and Notes, Conference papers and other publications (see diagram below). Also in this area, is the Online statistical queries section. This is an online download facility used to search for historical statistics by means of time series codes found in the Quarterly Bulletin (these are presented in brackets in the Statistical tables section of the Quarterly Bulletin). You may also search for time series codes in this area (see number 6).
Click on Publications & research to access the sub-menu.
Links and descriptions to the various publications by the South African Reserve Bank.
The online statistical queries link. See number 6 for more information.
6. Where can I find the South African Reserve Bank Quarterly Bulletin and the Statistical tables for secondary school assignments? To locate the South African Reserve Bank Quarterly Bulletin and the Statistical tables for secondary school assignments, please click on Statistical & economic info. On the next page, under the heading Quarterly Bulletin, are links to Quarterly Bulletin publications as well as publications related to the Quarterly Bulletin. (Also see no. 5) 7. Where and how can I find time series data on the South African Reserve Bank website? The online statistical queries section of the website can be used to download historical data (See number 5 on how to access this facility). Time series code provided in the Quarterly Bulletin may be used to download the statistics. These are presented in brackets in the Statistical tables section of the Quarterly Bulletin.
1. Click on Publications & research.
2. Click on Online statistical queries to access the main page shown on the right. 3. Click here to access the search page (check next page) where you can enter a time series code to download historic statistics. Time series codes can be found in the Quarterly Bulletin, Statistical tables section. These are provided in brackets. Click here if you want to look at or use multiple time series, for example, both M3 money supply and the rand-dollar exchange rate.
Click here to search for a time series code (an alternative to using the Quarterly Bulletin). See the next page.
Click on Help for a further explanation on viewing a time series and searching for a time series.
Enter the keyword, such as inflation, in this textbox to find the time series code, and select the category from the options below.
(Multiple time series)
Select the frequency from the drop-down menu and click on the Next button.
Click on the “Add time series data set” link to select the time series codes you wish to download. Please do not click on “Go” at this stage.
Enter the period of the time series codes you wish to view (only after you have selected the time series codes in step1) See the next screen print on how to select the time series codes.
Select the relevant category after entering the code you wish to download (see right) Please click on “Go” after entering the code and have selected the applicable category to go back to the previous screen to enter the period you wish to view.
Enter the code (with a wildcard) to display multiple time series codes from the same division. The list of codes is below: 1* - Money and banking 2* - Capital markets 4* - Public finance 5* - Balance of payments 6* - National accounts 7* - Business cycles
8. Where can I find historical exchange rates on the Reserve Bank’s website? To view historical exchange rate information, please log on to our website, http://www.reservebank.co.za. Click on SARB activities on the left frame of the website, then on Statistical and economic info. On the page that follows, under the heading Statistical information, click on the Selected Historical Exchange Rates and Other Interest Rates link. You will then be presented with a list of historical exchange rates of selected countries, in downloadable CSV (spreadsheet) format. (See diagram below for guidance)
1. Click on SARB activities.
2. Click on Statistical & economic info to access the page displayed on the right.
3. Click on Selected Historical Exchange Rates and Other Interest Rates (see next page).
9. Where can I find employment figures on your website? Employment figures can be found on the Statistics South Africa website, http://www.statssa.gov.za. Please note that you can also find CPI, CPIX, PPI, and GDP on this website.
10. Where can I find information about the saving and the levels of savings in South Africa? Savings statistics can be found in the South African Reserve Bank Quarterly Bulletin, Statistical tables section, Money and banking subsection. Also, please log on to the South African Savings Institute website, http://www.savingsinstitute.co.za.