IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the fourth quarter of 2015 was estimated at R2 100 620 million (R2,10 trillion), an increase of 0,6% compared with the third quarter of 2015 (R2 087 851 million or R2,09 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarters of 2015 turnover increased in five of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded for transport, storage and communication (+3,0%), followed by mining and quarrying (+2,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,9%), trade (+1,3%) and manufacturing (+0,7%). Decreases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-18,8%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-2,9%) and construction (-1,0%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015 were estimated at R780 009 million, an increase of 0,7% compared with R774 785 million at the end of the third quarter of 2015. Increases were recorded in transport, storage and communication (+10,0%), trade (+5,2%), electricity, gas and water supply (+4,3%), construction (+2,9%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+2,8%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,2%) and mining and quarrying (+0,9%). A decrease was recorded for manufacturing (-4,3%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R96 800 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, an increase of 6,7% compared with R90 725 million in the third quarter of 2015. The largest percentage increase was recorded for trade (+41,7%), followed by manufacturing (+36,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+29,1%). Decreases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-16,2%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-12,8%), construction (-11,9%), mining and quarrying (-2,8%) and transport, storage and communication (-2,3%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 100 620 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, an increase of 2,1% compared with R2 057 217 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The largest increase in turnover was recorded for electricity, gas and water supply (+15,1%), followed by construction (+12,2%), manufacturing (+5,1%), transport, storage and communication (+2,7%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+2,6%) and mining and quarrying (+2,1%). Decreases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-16,8%) and trade (-1,3%).