FNB senior economist says any hike in the VAT rate would raise annual inflation [SOUND]

# FNB senior economist, Koketso Mano, says consumer inflation edged up at the start of this year to 3.2-percent in January, up from 3-percent in December last year. This was the first data after the measured basket of goods was updated. The market sees headline inflation at 3.5-percent in February and settling above 5-percent by the end of the year. Mano says any hike in the VAT rate would lead to even higher inflation inflation: