IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the third quarter of 2018 was estimated at R2 428 855 million (R2,43 trillion), an increase of 3,2% compared with the second quarter of 2018 (R2 352 686 million or R2,35 trillion).

Between the second and third quarters of 2018, 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 (+11,6%), followed by manufacturing (+6,0%), transport, storage and communication (+3,5%), trade (+2,3%), mining and quarrying (+1,1%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,5%) and construction (+0,1%). A decrease was recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-2,3%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the third quarter of 2018 were estimated at R935 400 million, an increase of 3,0% compared with R908 453 million at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Increases were recorded in mining and quarrying (+11,2%), manufacturing (+3,9%) and trade (+1,0%). Decreases were recorded for transport, storage and communication (-2,6%), electricity, gas and water supply (-1,5%), construction (-1,1%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-1,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,3%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R88 012 million in the third quarter of 2018, a decrease of 1,0% compared with R88 906 million in the second quarter of 2018. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in construction (-34,1%), followed by mining and quarrying (-8,2%), manufacturing (-5,0%) and transport, storage and communication (-1,0%). Increases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+33,5%), trade (+13,8%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+6,2%) and electricity, gas and water supply (+0,1%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 428 855 million in the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 0,2% compared with R2 425 195 million in the third quarter of 2017. Four of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+8,1%), followed by manufacturing (+5,1%), electricity, gas and water supply (+1,4%) and transport, storage and communication (+1,3%). Decreases were recorded in construction (-18,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-5,7%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-2,8%) and trade (-1,3%).

1All industries in the South African economy, excluding agriculture, financial intermediation, insurance, government and educational institutions.