South Africa In A Recession

We have been noting for some time that while we expected overall South Africa GDP growth to perk up in 2017, it would be primarily due to agriculture, mining and tourism. As a result, we had worried that the domestic economy was effectively in recession.

Statistics SA’s publication of the 1Q17 GDP data showed that the weakness of the domestic economy was so prevalent that it overwhelmed the boon of the agricultural and mining sectors. The economy contracted by an annualised 0.7% between the final quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. This was well below the 1% expansion that was expected by consensus. There are significant implications of this for growth forecasts, government revenue expectations, credit ratings and interest rates.

Despite a healthy performance by the agriculture and the mining sectors, every other major sector contracted. This painted a picture of a very weak South African economy, with sharp contractions in the following:

• Internal Trade – this was the biggest surprise as the sector contracted by 5.9% quarter on quarter, principally due to very weak Wholesale and Accommodation & Restaurants. Motor Vehicle sales were also weak

• Financial Services – driven particularly by weakness in Commercial Banks and Real Estate. Stats SA also noted that there was weakness in all ancillary services (legal, accountants, advertising, architects, etc.)

• Transport and Communication – the transport sector contracted.

There are important points and implications to note:

1. The weakness was widespread
Figure 1 shows that only two sectors (mining and agriculture) grew in the quarter.

2. The consumer is under massive pressure
Every category of consumption (aside from services) contracted in the quarter, as set out in Figure 2. The nominal GDP growth rate was hugely distorted by the tax impact in the quarter. Nominal GDP before taxes grew by a weak 6.3% – which is low but we have seen similar levels in recent years. However, compensation recorded its weakest nominal growth rate since the early  1990s, as highlighted in Figure 3. This is due to the continued job losses, weak wage growth and the tax hikes we saw in the first quarter. The consumer has no further ability to absorb tax hikes. There will be a large negative impact on growth if this occurs.

3. Weaker consumption
This will pull down growth forecasts If we assume that semi-durable (principally clothing) volumes are flat this year and non-durables (food) only grow in the second half of 2017, we pull down our overall SA GDP growth forecast from 0.9% in 2017 to 0.5-0.6%. We are rapidly heading back towards the 2016 realised growth rate of 0.3%. We were assuming that growth would pick up through the year due to better fixed investment, however the cabinet reshuffle at the end of March has put paid to that expectation. The SARB has already downgraded its 2017 growth forecast to 1% at its May MPC meeting (Figure 4) – and it will be falling further at the July MPC meeting.

4. Government revenues are at risk
Weak growth will result in weak government revenues. The new Finance Minister will be making difficult decisions at the October MTBPS. The government will be left with the unfortunate choice of having to cut expenditure further.

5. Weak growth will put pressure on South Africa’s credit ratings
All the rating agencies put particular emphasis on the country’s prospective growth profile. Prior to this release, we had expected Moody’s to downgrade both the local and foreign currency ratings by one notch to the lowest investment grade rating of Baa3 (equivalent to BBB-), and put the country’s outlook at stable. This growth data raises the risk of a downgrade and a negative outlook from Moody’s. With S&P already holding the local currency rating at BBB-, negative, that would make the bond market worry about a possible ejection from the Citi WIGBI index. An investment grade rating from either S&P or Moody’s is required for SA rand-denominated debt to remain in the WIGBI. Given the growth in foreign ownership of SA debt in recent months, this is important. Figure 5 shows that foreigners have bought a net ZAR49bn of SA govt debt between February and April 2017, while local investors have sold ZAR17bn.

6. Weak growth will increase the impetus for the SARB to cut rates
The expected plunge in inflation was always going to put pressure on the SARB to cut rates by 25bps-50bps in 2017. While the Bank is clearly worried about the impact of South Africa’s politics on the rand and thus inflation, the widespread weakness in the domestic economy could spur a cut as
early as July. The economy is just that weak!

7. Imperative for the government to restore confidence in the SA economy 
This can be done by business, investors and the rating agencies.

This is the only way to reverse the decline in growth and requires action. We are watching the following:

a. The appointment of the DG of the National Treasury
b. The appointment of the Chief Procurement Officer
c. The release of the Mining Charter
d. The progress on IPPs
e. The progress on the digital migration.

Only action will restore confidence at this point.

June 01 2017 By Nazmeera Moola, Economist and Strategist Investing & Markets