The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the third quarter of 2016 was estimated at R2 172 175 million (R2,17 trillion), an increase of 2,1% compared with the second quarter of 2016 (R2 127 594 million or R2,13 trillion).

Between the second and third quarters of 2016, turnover increased in seven of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+17,5%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+4,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+4,1%), manufacturing (+2,0%), trade (+1,4%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+0,7%) and construction (+0,4%). A decrease was recorded in mining and quarrying (-4,9%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the third quarter of 2016 were estimated at R805 294 million, an increase of 1,1% compared with R796 174 million at the end of the second quarter of 2016. Increases were recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+7,1%), electricity, gas and water supply (+5,5%), construction (+2,9%), trade (+1,6%), mining and quarrying (+1,2%) and manufacturing (+0,2%). Decreases were recorded in transport, storage and communication (-6,4%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,9%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R88 807 million in the third quarter of 2016, a decrease of 5,5% compared with R93 999 million in the second quarter of 2016. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in mining and quarrying (-13,5%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-8,1%), trade (-7,0%), manufacturing (-6,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-3,3%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-2,9%) and construction (-0,5%). An increase was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+0,2%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 172 175 million in the third quarter of 2016, an increase of 4,0% compared with R2 087 851 million in the third quarter of 2015. All eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+10,8%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+10,6%), mining and quarrying (+8,9%), transport, storage and communication (+7,7%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+4,3%), trade (+2,7%), manufacturing (+2,7%) and construction (+1,5%).