IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the fourth quarter of 2011 was estimated at R1 609 674 million (R1,61 trillion), an increase of 5,1% compared with the revised third quarter of 2011 (R1 532 279 million or R1,53 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarters of 2011, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest increase in turnover was recorded for trade (+7,8%), followed by mining and quarrying (+7,4%), transport, storage and communication (+6,4%), manufacturing (+5,9%), construction (+2,7%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,2%). Decreases were recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (-26,5%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,1%).

Total inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2011 were estimated at R527 031 million, compared with R527 384 million for the revised third quarter of 2011, a decrease of 0,1%. The largest decrease in inventories was recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-2,1%), followed by manufacturing (-1,5%), mining and quarrying (-1,3%) and transport, storage and communication (-1,2%). An increase was recorded for construction (+9,2%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+6,3%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,6%) and trade (+1,7%).

Purchases for the fourth quarter of 2011 were estimated at R954 903 million, compared with R904 761 million for the revised third quarter of 2011, an increase of 5,5%. The largest increase in purchases was recorded for trade (+9,5%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+7,1%), mining and quarrying (+7,0%), construction (+4,2%) and manufacturing (+1,8%). A decrease was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (-5,4%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-3,7%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,4%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment for the fourth quarter of 2011 was estimated at R78 232 million, compared with R67 044 million for the revised third quarter of 2011, an increase of 16,7%. The largest increase was recorded for manufacturing (+49,2%), followed by mining and quarrying (+43,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (+17,4%), construction (+6,5%) and trade (+1,3%). A decrease was recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-20,8%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-3,5%) and transport, storage and communication       (-3,5%).

Turnover of all industries for the fourth quarter of 2011 was estimated at R1 609 674 million, compared with R1 382 984 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 16,4%. The largest increase was recorded for transport, storage and communication (+17,6%), followed by trade (+17,1%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+17,0%), electricity, gas and water supply (+16,6%), mining and quarrying (+16,6%), manufacturing (+16,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+15,2%) and construction (+8,7%).

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