这一非洲国家宣布：降息！

Core Viewpoint - South Africa's Reserve Bank has lowered the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 7.25%, marking the second rate cut this year, indicating ongoing economic challenges [2]. Economic Indicators - The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for South Africa fell to 44.7 in April from 48.7 in March, remaining below the neutral level of 50 for six consecutive months, indicating a contraction in manufacturing activity [2]. - The Business Activity Index dropped from 48.3 in March to 40 in April, reflecting a significant decline in business activity [2]. - New sales orders decreased by 12.8 points to 36.1, suggesting a contraction in both domestic and international demand [2]. Employment Data - The official unemployment rate in South Africa rose to 32.9% in the first quarter, up from 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024 [2]. - Employment decreased by 291,000 to 16.8 million, while the number of unemployed individuals increased by 237,000 to 8.2 million, resulting in a net labor force reduction of 54,000 [2]. - The youth unemployment rate increased from 44.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 46.1% in the first quarter of this year, highlighting ongoing challenges in the labor market [2].