IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the fourth quarter of 2016 was estimated at R2 309 987 million (R2,31 trillion), an increase of 1,3% compared with the third quarter of 2016 (R2 279 770 million or R2,28 trillion).

Between the third and fourth quarters of 2016, turnover increased in five of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+7,9%), followed by trade (+2,4%), transport, storage and communication (+1,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,1%) and manufacturing (+1,1%). Decreases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-18,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-0,2%) and construction (-0,2%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016 were estimated at R810 058 million, an increase of 0,5% compared with R806 187 million at the end of the third quarter of 2016. Increases were recorded in transport, storage and communication (+7,3%), electricity, gas and water supply (+7,1%), construction (+6,1%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+4,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,7%), trade (+2,2%) and mining and quarrying (+0,9%). A decrease was recorded in manufacturing (-2,5%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R106 543 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of 10,3% compared with R96 564 million in the third quarter of 2016. The largest percentage increase was recorded in transport, storage and communication (+41,5%), followed by construction (+40,7%), mining and quarrying (+34,3), manufacturing (+5,7%), trade (+2,6%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+1,2%). Decreases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-10,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-8,0%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 309 987 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of 9,0% compared with R2 119 065 million in the fourth 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) (+21,8%), followed by mining and quarrying (+20,1%), electricity, gas and water supply (+12,5%), transport, storage and communication (+11,0%), trade (+9,7%), manufacturing (+6,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+5,1%) and construction (+4,4%).