Protecting the value of the currency means that we aim to maintain its purchasing power. The purchasing power of the rand is influenced by inflation. As inflation rises, one is able to purchase fewer goods for a given number of rands. Therefore, we aim to protect the purchasing power of the currency by attempting to keep inflation low.
We have an inflation target range of 3–6 per cent, which informs our policymaking.The Reserve Bank is  2  BIS central bankers’ speeches  also responsible for regulating parts of the financial sector. Regulation of this nature helps to reduce the risk of financial crises, which over the long run is likely to result in improved economic performance.