IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of all industries1 for the first quarter of 2012 was estimated at R1 541 054 million (R1,54 trillion), a decrease of 4,5% compared with the revised fourth quarter of 2011 (R1 613 681 million or R1,61 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered in the survey. The largest decrease in turnover was recorded for mining and quarrying (-9,1%), followed by trade (-6,2%), manufacturing (-4,8%), construction (-4,5%), transport, storage and communication (-4,5%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-0,3%). Increases were recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+5,5%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,5%).

Total inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2012 were estimated at R563 559 million, compared with R534 804 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 5,4%. The largest increase in inventories was recorded for construction (+13,2%), followed by manufacturing (+6,8%), trade (+6,3%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,1%).       A decrease was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (-3,6%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-2,7%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,3%) and mining and quarrying (-0,1%).

Purchases for the first quarter of 2012 were estimated at R922 412 million, compared with R958 217 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease of 3,7%. The largest decrease in purchases was recorded for transport, storage and communication (-9,2%), followed by trade (-7,5%), mining and quarrying (-6,4%) and construction (-1,2%). An increase was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (+25,4%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+7,1%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+3,9%) and manufacturing (+0,1%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment for the first quarter of 2012 was estimated at R63 376 million, compared with R79 689 million for the revised fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease of 20,5%. The largest decrease was recorded for transport, storage and communication (-38,7%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (-27,6%), mining and quarrying (-23,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-10,8%), manufacturing      (-9,7%) and trade (-4,7%). Increases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+27,1%) and construction (+3,0%).

Turnover of all industries for the first quarter of 2012 was estimated at R1 541 054 million, compared with R1 349 445 million for the revised first quarter of 2011, an increase of 14,2%. The largest increase was recorded for transport, storage and communication (+17,4%), followed by trade (+16,2%), electricity, gas and water supply (+15,0%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+14,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+13,9%), manufacturing (+13,7%), construction (+8,9%) and mining and quarrying (+7,4%).

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