# Economists participating in the Bureau of Market Research and Unisa’s Economist of the Year Competition do not expect further interest rate hikes this year. The 43 economists’ September forecasts follow a hike that pushed the prime lending rate to 10.75-percent. The bureau’s CEO, Carel van Aardt, says weaker economic growth and consumer demand could help contain inflation. However, employment growth forecasts have halved from one- to zero-point-five percent, raising concerns about inclusive growth and household spending.
Economists rule out further interest rate hikes in 2026