IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the first quarter of 2017 was estimated at R2 208 288 million (R2,21 trillion), a decrease of 4,7% compared with the fourth quarter of 2016 (R2 317 840 million or R2,32 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2016 and first quarter of 2017, turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (-8,7%), followed by construction (-6,4%), manufacturing (-6,0%), trade (-5,3%), transport, storage and communication (-2,9%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-1,9%). An increase was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+0,8%) while a minimal change was recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2017 were estimated at R810 927 million, an increase of 0,6% compared with R805 719 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016. Increases were recorded in mining and quarrying (+2,9%), manufacturing (+2,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,1%) and electricity, gas and water supply (+1,0%). Decreases were recorded in transport, storage and communication (-9,6%), community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (-5,5%), construction (-0,9%) and trade (-0,7%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R90 831 million in the first quarter of 2017, a decrease of 13,1% compared with R104 543 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in transport, storage and communication (-42,2%), followed by manufacturing (-23,1%), mining and quarrying (-19,3), trade (-9,2%), construction (-3,7%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,7%). Increases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+28,1%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions) (+2,5%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 208 288 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 10,8% compared with R1 992 942 million in the first quarter of 2016. 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) (+17,4%), followed by mining and quarrying (+12,9%), transport, storage and communication (+12,8%), trade (+12,3%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+11,3%), manufacturing (+8,5%), electricity, gas and water supply (+8,3%) and construction (+2,9%).