Nevertheless, with employment and real disposable income rising and the average debtservice ratio well contained, most households are still in a comfortable position and this is likely to persist, provided they continue to live within their means and allow for some cushion to shield them against unforeseen events.
The South African Reserve Bank is committed to ensuring that the hard-won gains in the fight against inflation are not forfeited. With international oil prices recently recording recordhigh levels, there is no shortage of factors waiting to fuel the inflation spiral.