IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the fourth quarter of 2009 was estimated at R1 264 009 million (R1,26 trillion), an increase of 5,5% compared with the revised third quarter of 2009 (R1 198 095 million or R1,20 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarters of 2009, turnover increased in five of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest increase in turnover was recorded for manufacturing (+10,3%), followed by trade (+8,8%), transport, storage and communication (+1,1%), construction (+0,4%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+0,3%). Decreases were recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (-24,8%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,5%) and mining and quarrying (-0,3%).

Total inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 were estimated at R457 078 million, compared with R464 046 million for the revised third quarter of 2009, a decrease of 1,5%. The largest decrease in inventories was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (-4,8%), followed by manufacturing         (-2,8%) and trade (-2,3%). Increases were reported for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+9,3%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+6,1%), mining and quarrying (+4,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,1%) and construction (+0,4%).

Purchases for the fourth quarter of 2009 were estimated at R717 809 million, compared with R668 838 million for the revised third quarter of 2009, an increase of  7,3%. The largest increase in purchases was recorded for trade (+9,8%), followed by manufacturing (+8,2%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+6,8%), mining and quarrying (+6,5%) and construction (+2,1%). Decreases were reported for transport, storage and communication (-3,3%), electricity, gas and water supply (-2,4%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,4%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment for the fourth quarter of 2009 was estimated at  R69 304 million, compared with R64 666 million for the revised third quarter of 2009, an increase of 7,2%. The largest increase was reported for mining and quarrying (+24,9%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+16,9%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+14,8%), manufacturing (+5,7%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+3,7%) and trade (+2,0%). Decreases were recorded for transport, storage and communication (-10,4%) and for construction (-10,0%).

Turnover of all industries decreased by 5,3% between the fourth quarters of 2008 and 2009. The largest decrease was reported by mining and quarrying (-19,4%), followed by trade (-11,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-11,2%), transport, storage and communication (-7,5%) and construction (-2,7%). Increases were reported for electricity, gas and water supply (+21,6%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+11,4%) and manufacturing (+6,5%).

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