South Africa’s inflation expectations increase in the second quarter, adding pressure to the Reserve Bank’s efforts to keep expectations anchored around its 3% target. Both reports say the rise in expectations makes it more difficult for the central bank to steer price expectations in a way that supports its inflation objective. The timing matters because the change occurs before the upcoming rate decision, when policymakers assess current inflation dynamics and the outlook for future price growth. The articles highlight that expectations are moving away from what the central bank views as its target, which can influence wage bargaining, pricing decisions by businesses, and ultimately realized inflation. While the reports do not provide detailed figures in the shared excerpts, they are consistent in pointing to a deterioration in the expectations outlook during the second quarter. Overall, the news indicates that policymakers face a more challenging environment in which maintaining credibility and anchoring expectations around the 3% goal is central to the forthcoming monetary policy decision.