IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the third quarter of 2017 was estimated at R2 339 747 million (R2,34 trillion), an increase of 3,6% compared with the second quarter of 2017 (R2 258 314 million or R2,26 trillion).

Between the second and third quarters of 2017, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+14,4%), followed by trade (+5,8%), mining and quarrying (+4,6%), transport, storage and communication (+3,3%), manufacturing (+2,5%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+1,4%). Decreases were recorded in construction (-1,2%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,4%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the third quarter of 2017 were estimated at R833 031 million, an increase of 1,1% compared with R823 606 million at the end of the second quarter of 2017. Increases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+3,2%), electricity, gas and water supply (+3,1%), mining and quarrying (+2,3%), manufacturing (+1,7%), construction (+1,3%), trade (+0,3%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,3%). A decrease was recorded in transport, storage and communication (-2,8%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R82 240 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 2,0% compared with R80 607 million in the second quarter of 2017. The largest percentage increase was recorded in manufacturing (+15,2%), followed by trade (+11,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+9,2%) and transport, storage and communication (+4,8%). Decreases were recorded in mining and quarrying (-13,4%), construction (-8,4%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-7,1%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-2,2%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 339 747 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 2,6% compared with R2 279 770 million in the third quarter of 2016. Five of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in transport, storage and communication (+6,0%), followed by trade (+4,9%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+4,5%), mining and quarrying (+4,1%) and manufacturing (+1,3%). Decreases were recorded in construction (-4,3%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-1,1%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-0,2%).