IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS
Key findings: P0044 - Quarterly financial statistics (QFS), March 2018
The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the first quarter of 2018 was estimated at R2 323 993 million (R2,32 trillion), a decrease of 6,4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2017 (R2 483 403 million or R2,48 trillion).
Between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, turnover decreased in seven of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (-11,2%), followed by trade (-8,9%), manufacturing (-6,9%), transport, storage and communication (-2,7%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-2,3%), electricity, gas and water supply (-0,7%) and construction (-0,7%). An increase was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+0,7%).
Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2018 were estimated at R889 592 million, a decrease of 2,0% compared with R907 437 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017. Decreases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-13,6%), transport, storage and communication (-10,3%), trade (-5,0%), construction (-3,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,4%), and manufacturing (-0,1%). Increases were recorded in mining and quarrying (+3,0) and electricity, gas and water supply (+2,9%).
Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R96 433 million in the first quarter of 2018, a decrease of 6,4% compared with R102 985 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-33,0%), followed by mining and quarrying (-26,5%), manufacturing (-20,5%), trade (-4,2%), and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,8%). Increases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+14,0), construction (+11,3%) and transport, storage and communication (+9,7%).
Turnover was estimated at R2 323 993 million in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 3,4% compared with R2 248 280 million in the first quarter of 2017. Six of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in manufacturing (+10,2%), followed by electricity, gas and water supply (+9,2%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+7,2%), transport, storage and communication (+6,9%), mining and quarrying (+4,6%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+0,4%). Decreases were recorded in trade (-3,6%) and construction (-1,4%).