IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the first quarter of 2011 was estimated at R1 352 351 million (R1,35 trillion), a decrease of 2,2% compared with the revised fourth quarter of 2010 (R1 382 984 million or R1,38 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011, turnover decreased in five of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest decrease in turnover was recorded for trade (-5,1%), followed by construction (-2,9%), manufacturing (-1,8%), electricity, gas and water supply (-0,7%) and transport, storage and communication (-0,5%). Increases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,8%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,9%) and mining and quarrying (+1,1%).

Total inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2011 were estimated at R503 223 million, compared with R488 936 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 2,9%. The largest increase in inventories was recorded for trade (+4,6%), followed by manufacturing (+3,3%) and electricity, gas and water supply (+2,3%). Decreases were recorded for transport, storage and communication (-5,6%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-4,3%), mining and quarrying (-1,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,8%), and construction (-0,3%).

Purchases for the first quarter of 2011 were estimated at R790 592 million, compared with R811 001 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 2,5%. The largest decrease in purchases was recorded for trade (-8,7%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-4,9%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-2,8%), mining and quarrying (-2,0%) and construction (-0,7%). Increases were recorded for manufacturing (+5,9%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+4,9%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,0%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment for the first quarter of 2011 was estimated at R64 402 million, compared with R74 248 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 13,3%. The largest decrease was reported for manufacturing (-42,5%), followed by mining and quarrying (-30,3%), trade (-29,1%), transport, storage and communication (-13,6%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-10,3%). Increases were reported for electricity, gas and water supply (+35,3%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+24,3%) and construction (+16,3%).

Turnover of all industries for the first quarter of 2011 was estimated at R1 352 351 million, compared with R1 192 604 million for the revised first quarter of 2010, an increase of 13,4%. The largest increase was recorded for mining and quarrying (+29,7%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+23,2%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+19,7%), trade (+16,6%), manufacturing (+13,2%), transport, storage and communication (+10,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+2,0%). A decrease was recorded for construction (-6,1%).

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