IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the first quarter of 2009 was estimated at R1 184 133 million (R1,18 trillion), a decrease of 11,3% compared with the revised fourth quarter of 2008     (R1 334 914 million or R1,33 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, turnover decreased in seven of the eight industries covered in this survey. The largest decrease in turnover was recorded for mining and quarrying (-15,4%), followed by manufacturing (-15,2%), trade (-12,0%), transport, storage and communication (-8,9%),  electricity, gas and water supply (-5,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-4,5%) and construction (-3,6%). An increase was reported for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+4,7%).
 
Total inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2009 were estimated at R472 774 million, compared with R479 794 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2008, a decrease of 1,5%. The largest decrease in inventories was recorded for transport, storage and communication (-13,3%), followed by manufacturing (-6,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions)    (-1,4%) and construction (-0,3%). Increases were reported for electricity, gas and water supply (+9,2%), trade (+4,0%), mining and quarrying (+1,7%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,5%).

Purchases for the first quarter of 2009 were estimated at R690 835 million, compared with R765 281 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2008, a decrease of 9,7%. The largest decrease in purchases was recorded for transport, storage and communication (-16,1%), followed by  manufacturing (-11,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (-11,5%), mining and quarrying (-10,6%), trade (-8,9%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-6,2%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-3,1%), and construction (-0,3%).

Total capital expenditure on new buildings, improvements, construction works, plant and machinery, furniture, fittings, vehicles and other equipment for the first quarter of 2009 was estimated at R76 301 million, compared with R78 457 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2008, a decrease of 2,7%. The largest decrease was reported for mining and quarrying (-39,6%), followed by trade (-29,4%), manufacturing (-16,6%), transport, storage and communication (-9,1%), construction (-2,8%). Increases were reported for electricity, gas and water supply (+111,2%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,2%).

Turnover for all industries increased by 1,1% between the first quarters of 2008 and 2009. The largest increase was reported by community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+28,5%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+21,6%), construction (+12,7%), transport, storage and communication (+10,3%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+2,4%). Decreases were reported for manufacturing (-3,1%), followed by mining and quarrying (-2,2%) and trade (-0,9%).

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