IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the fourth quarter of 2008 was estimated at R1 342 682 million (R1,34 trillion), a decrease of 2,8% compared with the revised third quarter of 2008     (R1 380 865 million or R1,38 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarter of 2008, turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest decrease in turnover was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply         (-25,4%), followed by mining and quarrying (-10,1%), manufacturing (-6,3%), construction (-3,3%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-2,3%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-1,7%). Increases were reported for transport, storage and communication (+4,4%) and trade (+1,2%). 

Total inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008 were estimated at R478 758 million, compared with R494 631 million for the revised third quarter of 2008, a decrease of 3,2%. The largest decrease in inventories was recorded for manufacturing (-6,9%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-3,1%) and trade (-2,8%). Increases were reported for electricity, gas and water supply (+16,3%), transport, storage and communication (+15,2%), mining and quarrying (+3,1%), construction (+2,8%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,6%).

Purchases for the fourth quarter of 2008 were estimated at R764 648 million, compared with R821 044 million for the revised third quarter of 2008, a decrease of 6,9%. The largest decrease in purchases was recorded for manufacturing (-15,4%), followed by mining and quarrying (-8,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-7,4%), electricity, gas and water supply (-6,5%), trade (-2,7%) and construction (-2,0%). Increases were reported for transport, storage and communication (+7,4%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,6%).

Total capital expenditure on new buildings, improvements, construction works, plant and machinery, furniture, fittings, vehicles and other equipment was estimated at R73 128 million for all industries for the fourth quarter of 2008, an increase of 14,0% compared with the revised third quarter of 2008     (R64 135 million). The largest increase was reported for transport, storage and communication (+28,4%), followed by construction (+25,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+23,3%), mining and quarrying (+22,6%) and trade (+1,3%). Decreases were reported for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-14,5%) and manufacturing (-1,6%). Electricity, gas and water supply remained unchanged.

Turnover for all industries increased by 14,2% between the fourth quarters of 2007 and 2008. The largest increase was reported by mining and quarrying (+27,7%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+26,6%), construction (+22,1%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+19,7%), transport, storage and communication (+17,8%), manufacturing (+13,7%), trade (+12,1%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+5,7%).

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