IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Between the third and fourth quarters of 2017, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in manufacturing (+5,8%), followed by mining and quarrying (+5,6%), trade (+5,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+2,1%), transport, storage and communication (+1,8%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+0,4%). Decreases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-14,7%) and construction (-3,8%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017 were estimated at R908 574 million, an increase of 1,2% compared with R897 920 million at the end of the third quarter of 2017. Increases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+5,6%), trade (+3,5%), electricity, gas and water supply (+2,4%), construction (+1,6%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+0,6%). Decreases were recorded in transport, storage and communication (-9,1%), mining and quarrying (-0,9%) and manufacturing (-0,1%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R99 026 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 12,2% compared with R88 249 million in the third quarter of 2017. The largest percentage increase was recorded in mining and quarrying (+29,0%), followed by manufacturing (+25,4%), transport, storage and communication (+18,3%), construction (+9,0%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+6,3%). Decreases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-9,5%), electricity, gas and water supply (-6,5%) and trade (-1,4%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 511 109 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 8,3% compared with R2 317 840 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Seven of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in manufacturing (+10,7%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+10,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+10,2%), electricity, gas and water supply (+8,1%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+7,7%), mining and quarrying (+7,3%) and trade (+6,9%). A decrease was recorded in construction (-2,1%).