IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings for the quarter ended March 2022

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the first quarter of 2022 was estimated at R3 017 817 million (R3,02 trillion), a decrease of 0,5% compared with the fourth quarter of 2021 (R3 034 137 million or R3,03 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, turnover decreased in three industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in trade (-1,3%), followed by transport, storage and communication (-1,3%) and manufacturing (-1,0%). Increases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+1,8%), construction (+1,6%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,1%), mining and quarrying (+0,5%) and electricity, gas and water supply (+0,2%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2022 were estimated at R1 113 901 million, an increase of 1,9% compared with R1 092 689 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2021. Increases were recorded in mining and quarrying (+9,9%), manufacturing (+3,3%), transport, storage and communication (+1,6%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+1,3%). Decreases were recorded in construction (-15,5%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-11,8%), electricity, gas and water supply (-1,4%) and trade (-0,5%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R95 658 million in the first quarter of 2022, a decrease of 3,4% compared with R99 067 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in manufacturing (-25,8%), followed by mining and quarrying (-23,4%) and trade (-4,6%). Increases were recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+45,1%), construction (+16,2%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+11,9%), electricity, gas and water supply (+8,6%) and transport, storage and communication (+6,2%).

Turnover was estimated at R3 017 817 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 12,0% compared with R2 695 263 million in the first quarter of 2021. Seven of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual increases. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+25,3%), followed by trade (+14,5%),  electricity, gas and water supply (+13,6%), transport, storage and communication (+12,3%), mining and quarrying (+8,4%), manufacturing (+6,6%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+4,9%). A decrease was recorded in construction (-9,8%).