# The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry says trade conditions improved marginally in July and August, but remain challenging. SACCI says its Present Conditions Index recovered from 35 in June to 42 in August. The chamber’s CEO Alan Mukoki warns rising crude oil prices could increase business input costs and affect spending. Meanwhile, consumer inflation eased to 4.3-percent in July. He says expectations for the next six months remain positive, with the employment index rising to 64 in August from 40 in April.
SACCI warns trade conditions recover but remain tough