IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the third quarter of 2008 was estimated at R1 367 746 million (R1,37 trillion), an increase of 2,9% compared with the revised second quarter of 2008 (R1 329 426 million or R1,33 trillion).

Between the second and the third quarter of 2008, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest increase in turnover was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (+38,3%), followed by construction (+7,3%), transport, storage and communication (+7,1%), manufacturing (+5,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,6%) and trade (+0,4%). Decreases were reported for mining and quarrying (-2,2%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,9%).

Total inventories at the end of the third quarter of 2008 was estimated at R486 788 million, compared with R464 725 million for the revised second quarter of 2008, an increase of 4,7%. The largest increase in inventories was recorded for mining and quarrying (+12,9%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+7,4%), trade (+6,7%), transport, storage and communication (+3,4%) and manufacturing (+3,0%). Decreases were reported for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-4,6%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions)        (-2,9%) and construction (-1,7%).

Purchases at the end of the third quarter of 2008 were estimated at R806 747 million, compared with   R804 289 million for the revised second quarter of 2008, an increase of 0,3%. The largest increase in purchases was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (+16,6%), followed by mining and quarrying (+5,5%), transport, storage and communication (+5,2%), construction (+1,6%) and manufacturing (+0,1%).  Decreases were reported for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-6,9%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,9%) and trade (-0,4%).

Total capital expenditure on new buildings, improvements, construction works, plant and machinery, furniture, fittings, vehicles and other equipment was estimated at R67 187 million for all industries for the third quarter of 2008, an increase of 10,6% compared with the revised second quarter of 2008   (R60 771 million). The largest increase was reported for transport, storage and communication (+75,3%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+19,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (+18,9%) and trade (+8,8%).  Decreases were reported for manufacturing (-15,4%), mining and quarrying (-10,6%), construction (-5,0%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-2,6%).

Turnover for all industries increased by 22,7% between the third quarters of 2007 and 2008. The largest increase was reported by mining and quarrying (+44,3%), followed by construction (+34,8%), electricity, gas and water supply (+31,7%), manufacturing (+26,9%), transport, storage and communication (+19,4%), trade (+18,8%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+14,9%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+9,0%).