The price index has risen in tandem with the higher activity, which suggests that producer prices will continue to rise in the coming months.
The stronger rand and a slow start to the year are likely to be the biggest drivers of slower growth in January.
Macro reforms have become entrenched and made it cheaper and easier to run a business, and are no longer questioned.
Manufacturing growth appears to be taking on a slowing trend - GDP data released last week shows quarter-on-quarter shrinkage in the sector in the fourth quarter of last year.
With private-sector credit extension running well ahead of expectation, the consumer is clearly still being supported by high leverage.
The index remains below 50, so employment in manufacturing is still shrinking, but at a slower rate than in February.
The whole focus on 6% growth is wrong. It's not necessary to get to 6%. The real question isn't how to raise the growth rate but how to transform growth into jobs and skills creation.
With maize futures prices up substantially since last March, we should be seeing the pass-through in Wednesday's data.
