When all is considered, 2017 can definitely rate as annus horribilis (or a ‘horrible year’). Q1 2017 started with promise as the Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) business confidence index compiled by the Bureau for Economic Research rose to 40 points from 38 in the last quarter of last year, remaining however, below the neutral 50-mark. The index has only been above the 50-mark on four occasions since 2008, a pattern RMB said was consistent with an ‘economy treading water’. 更多
