IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the first quarter of 2008 was estimated at R1 168 891 million (R1,17 trillion), a decrease of 0,6% compared with the revised fourth quarter of 2007 (R1 176 207 million or R1,18 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest decrease was recorded for transport, storage and communication (-3,5%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (-2,1%), manufacturing (-2,0%), trade (-0,8%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,3%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,1%).  Increases were reported in mining and quarrying (+7,1%) and construction (+3,1%).

Total inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2008 were estimated at R384 933 million, compared with R366 437 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2007, an increase of 5,0%.  The highest increase in inventories was recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+17,0%), followed by manufacturing (+8,3%), mining and quarrying (+8,2%), electricity, gas and water supply (+4,6%), transport, storage and communication (+4,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+2,4%), trade (+1,6%) and construction (+0,7%).

Purchases at the end of the first quarter of 2008 were estimated at R682 274 million, compared with   R687 058 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2007, a decrease of 0,7%.  The highest decrease in purchases was recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-6,1%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-4,1%), trade (-3,7%), electricity, gas and water supply (-2,0%) and mining and quarrying (-1,8%).  Increases were reported in construction (+5,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+4,1%) and manufacturing (+3,2%).

Total capital expenditure on new buildings, improvement, construction works, machinery, furniture, fittings, vehicles and other equipment was estimated at R67 556 million for all industries for the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 4,0% compared with the revised fourth quarter of 2007 (R64 981 million). The highest increase was reported in transport, storage and communication (+63,9%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+22,0%) and construction (+9,5%).  Decreases were reported in trade (-33,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-24,8%), manufacturing (-19,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-13,7%) and mining and quarrying (-11,1%).

Turnover for all industries increased by 15,4% between the first quarters of 2007 and 2008. The largest increase was reported by construction (+40,1%), followed by mining and quarrying (+29,1%), trade (+18,0%), manufacturing (+15,1%), transport, storage and communication (+10,3%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+6,5%).  Decreases were reported in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-19,0%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-6,7%).

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