The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) business confidence index rose to 124.1 in May from a seven-month low of 123.6 in the prior month. The improvement was attributed to higher new vehicle sales and stronger merchandise exports, with imports contributing to a lesser extent, as companies tried to adjust to the oil price shock from the Middle East conflict. Conversely, the chamber noted that a decline in overseas tourist arrivals had a substantial negative impact on the index, while rising inflation remained a concern for businesses.