The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the first quarter of 2016 was estimated at R2 011 947 million (R2,01 trillion), a decrease of 5,1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 (R2 119 065 million or R2,12 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2016 turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in construction (-10,0%), followed by manufacturing (-6,9%), trade (-6,2%), mining and quarrying (-3,9%), transport, storage and communication (-1,9%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,7%). Increases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+2,1%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,0%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2016 were estimated at R779 138 million, an increase of 1,4% compared with R768 024 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015. Increases were recorded in manufacturing (+5,3%), construction (+1,8%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,5%) and mining and quarrying (+1,4%). Decreases were recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-6,1%), transport, storage and communication (-4,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (-1,4%) and trade (-1,3%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R94 620 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 3,8% compared with R98 342 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in mining and quarrying (-25,7%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-16,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-12,9%), manufacturing (-12,1%), trade (-11,1%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-4,3%). Increases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+45,7%) and construction (+1,5%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 011 947 million in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 3,6% compared with R1 941 165 million in the first quarter of 2015. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+21,2%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+7,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+6,6%), trade (+4,5%) and manufacturing (+3,3%). Decreases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-16,5%), construction (-2,8%) and mining and quarrying (-1,4%).