The American-based National Retail Federation (NRF) earlier this week named Pick ‘n Pay the world’s best retailer. (Pick ‘n Pay named world’s best retailer, Mail & Guardian Online, 13 January 2009)

This week’s theme: A good start to 2009

According to a statement by FIFA, construction on all ten stadiums to be used for the 2010 World Cup will be completed on schedule, before the end of 2009. (2010 World Cup stadiums to be completed this year, Engineering News, 12 January 2009)

This week’s theme: A good start to 2009

Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy expanded 5.4 percent in 2008, the first time in more than 45 years that growth exceeded 5 percent for five years in succession, and despite substantial deterioration in the external environment during the year. (www.sagoodnews.co.za)

This week’s theme: A good start to 2009

There were 937 fatalities on South Africa’s roads over the 2008/2009 holiday period (December 1 through to January 5), a drop of about 40% compared to last year’s figures. (Cops winning war against road deaths, The Times, 6 January 2009)

This week’s theme: A good start to 2009

On 7 January 2009, the price of petrol dropped by 134c – 137c a litre, depending on the grade. This comes on top of a 161c cut in December and a 45c cut in November 2008. All in all, to fill up a 60 litre tank will cost about R200 less in January 2009 than it did in early November 2008. (The Times, The Wheel Deal, 3 January 2009)

This week’s theme: A good start to 2009