IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the fourth quarter of 2007 was estimated at R1 164 770 million (R1,16 trillion), an increase of 4,5% compared with the revised third quarter of 2007 (R1 114 708 million or R1,11 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarter of 2007, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered in the survey.  The largest increase was recorded for trade (+7,9%), followed by manufacturing (+4,9%), mining and quarrying (+2,0%), construction (+1,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,6%) and transport, storage and communication (+1,5%).  Decreases were reported in electricity, gas and water supply (-21,8%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,4%).

Total inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007 were estimated at R361 337 million, compared with R356 501 million for the revised third quarter of 2007, an increase of 1,4%.  The highest increase in inventories was recorded for construction (+7,0%), followed by trade (+5,4%), mining and quarrying (+1,8%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,8%).  Decreases were reported in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-2,9%), manufacturing (-2,4%), transport, storage and communication (-2,4%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-1,2%).

Purchases at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007 were estimated at R662 360 million, compared with R627 133 million for the revised third quarter of 2007, an increase of 5,6%.  The highest increase in purchases was recorded for trade (+9,2%), followed by mining and quarrying (+8,2%), construction (+2,4%), manufacturing (+2,2%), transport, storage and communication (+0,9%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+0,1%).  Decreases were reported in electricity, gas and water supply (-9,6%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,5%).

Total capital expenditure on new buildings, improvement, construction works, machinery, furniture, fittings, vehicles and other equipment was estimated at R61 360 million for all industries for the fourth quarter of 2007, an increase of 13,4% compared with the revised third quarter of 2007 (R54 112 million). The highest increase was reported in mining and quarrying (+31,9%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+20,2%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+17,3%), electricity, gas and water supply (+16,9%), manufacturing (+15,3%), transport, storage and communication (+7,1%) and trade (+1,1%).  A decrease was reported by construction (-16,1%).

Turnover for all industries increased by 13,1% between the fourth quarters of 2006 and 2007. The largest increase was reported by construction (+31,2%), followed by mining and quarrying (+23,9%), trade (+15,8%), manufacturing (+11,2%), transport, storage and communication (+9,9%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+7,7%). Decreases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-14,6%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-2,8%).

1 All industries in the South African economy, excluding agriculture, financial intermediation and insurance and government institutions.