IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the first quarter of 2015 was estimated at R1 950 689 million (R1,95 trillion), a decrease of 5,2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 (R2 057 217 million or R2,06 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015 turnover decreased in seven of the eight industries covered by the QFS survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in trade (-8,0%), followed by manufacturing (-5,5%), transport, storage and communication (-4,9%), mining and quarrying (-3,5%), electricity, gas and water supply (-2,2%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,3%) and construction (-0,5%). An increase was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (2,9%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2015 were estimated at R680 652 million, an increase of 1,0% compared with R674 230 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014. Increases were recorded in manufacturing (4,1%) and construction (3,6%). Decreases in inventories were recorded in transport, storage and communication (-5,7%), electricity, gas and water supply (-2,6%), trade (-1,7%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,7%), mining and quarrying (-0,7%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,4%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R86 302 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 9,3% compared with R95 104 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in mining and quarrying (-28,3%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-22,6%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-22,0%), manufacturing (-14,5%) and transport, storage and communication (-10,9%). Increases were recorded in construction (39,1%), electricity, gas and water supply (11,5%) and trade (1,3%).

Turnover was estimated at R1 950 689 million in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 3,8% compared with R1 879 004 million in the first quarter of 2014. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in construction (30,8%), followed by real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (20,5%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (18,1%), electricity, gas and water supply (9,1%), trade (7,1%) and transport, storage and communication (2,7%). Decreases were recorded in manufacturing (-7,4%) and mining and quarrying (-7,1%).

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