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TransUnion consumer credit index shows credit health remained broadly stable in Q4 2016

10 February 2017 | General

The Consumer Credit Index (CCI) declined marginally in Q4 2016 to 49.6 from 50.3 according to TransUnion (NYSE: TRU), a global leader in credit and information management. The CCI is based on a 100-point scale, comprising three components: consumer credit behaviour (borrowing and repayment), household cash flow conditions and debt servicing costs. A level of 50.0 is the break-even level of improving and deteriorating credit health.

World economy: After a tumultuous 2016, a slight improvement in 2017

07 February 2017 | General

According to Coface’s estimates, global growth weakened for the second consecutive year in 2016, at 2.5%. Marginally higher growth of +2.7% is expected in 2017, especially with the upturn in activity in emerging economies (+4.1% in 2017, up from +3.7% in 2016) and the economic recovery in Brazil and Russia which will offset China’s gradual economic deceleration.

Tax increases are likely in the 2017 National Budget Speech

30 January 2017 | Budget 2017

In the Medium-term Budget Speech, on 26 October 2016, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan indicated that there would be tax increases of R13bn in 2017, and provisionally further tax increases of R15bn in 2018. These are in addition to the approximately R15bn tax increases that were introduced in 2016. This is according to Patricia Williams, Tax partner at Bowmans law firm, who notes that middle to high-income earners can expect further tax increases in the National Budget Speech next month.