Rand weakens

[AndyD]

Well, the notifications on annual price increases from suppliers have been coming in thick and fast, ranging from 7 to 17% so far.

I can see my annual price escalations are going to be well above 6% this year...

When you say 'suppliers' do you mean service providers like accountants, lawyers, power, phones, fuel etc?

I don't worry about supplier prices because we just mark up by percentage to the end user/customer. If you mean the service providers to your business then yes our's are averaging 15% increase year on year.

I don't have a single price increase for our services each year, we have two that are six months apart. We had a 10% 8 months ago and we had another 10% end of November. With the fuel costs etc I can see another 5-10% increase coming in May as well.

[Dave A]

I don't have a single price increase for our services each year, we have two that are six months apart.

At this rate, I might have to go that route for my jobbing related service offerings.

The challenge is going to be my long term contract portfolio where there is a strong tradition within the sector of annual repricing only.

When you say 'suppliers' do you mean service providers like accountants, lawyers, power, phones, fuel etc?

I'm referring to the products associated with our long term contracts, the very foundation of which is budget stability (long story). Fuel price change is a factor, of course, but I pretty much have to pick a level and live with it for the year.

[wynn]

The South African economy is dependent on a stable mining industry that has lasting and sustained peace in its labour affairs, says Trevor Manuel.

read it at http://mg.co.za/article/2014-02-04-s...ns-says-manuel

[Dave A]

The problem is mining might only make up less than 10% of GDP, but it accounts for about 60% of our foreign earnings.

[ians]

I heard right petrol price increase 39c effective midnight. Just when I thought R15 was going to be a steep hill to climb, rumours are that the petrol price will be going closer to R16.

[Phil Cooper]

Union actually don't give a DAMN for their members,

They just want to look as if they are achieving more for their members, so the monthly membership fees keep rolling in to keep the union leaders in the manner to thich they have become accustomed.

[desA]

Moeletsi Mbeki, Architects of poverty.

A good read.

[adam232]

imagine what life was like before like before we had the right to complain, life is tough but sometimes all we can do is think positive or the negative consumes us(end up getting high blood pressure and heart attacks). when its really tough i just read my employers motivating work.

"life is tough but, sometimes we just need to stay motivated or loose our sanity, because for every negative in life there is a positive" - Alan Kowa

[Phil Cooper]

Reasons why Rand weakens

It is how the outside world sees us...

[newBix]

in 2013 the rand slid 19% against the US dollar. Our lower exports and higher risk for new investments are responsible for the continuing drop. But can we expect anyone to invest in us this year? Unfortunately no, we remain a high risk country because of a volatile labour force and power delivery remains unpredictable. Only yesterday Friday 21/02/2014 Eskom has declared another power emergency. Thankfully due to negotiations of lower power tariffs Eskom will not pay heavy penalties when they ask some of their biggest industrial clients switch off from 16:00 to 21:00.

But our local economy is really the key factor. Workers demands higher wages on a downhill market. Businesses are doing worse but must pay more. Thus a major rethink is necessary to stay competitive. The biggest local factor remains government as they demand more from a shrinking working class.

[ians]

And so we can expect another petrol price increase next month, I hear it is going to be about 32 cents.

[newBix]

And so we can expect another petrol price increase next month, I hear it is going to be about 32 cents.

When petrol goes up so does food, they are interconnected. I think it time to ask the boss that dreaded question.

"can I have a raise please"

[Justloadit]

"can I have a raise please"

Ja Ja, Raise you ass and get outa here.

[newBix]

Ja Ja, Raise you ass and get outa here.

that's sexual harassment

[adam232]

This exchange rate hurts when you have to travel overseas