The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries¹ in the first quarter of 2019 was estimated at R2 392 469 million (R2,39 trillion), a decrease of 6,0% compared with the fourth quarter of 2018 (R2 544 057 million or R2,54 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, turnover decreased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (-11,7%), followed by manufacturing (-9,3%), transport, storage and communication (-6,0%), trade (-5,6%), electricity, gas and water supply (-1,7%) and real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,6%). Increases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+5,3%) and construction (+2,1%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2019 were estimated at R932 237 million, an increase of 1,0% compared with R923 079 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018. Increases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+6,8%), construction (+6,1%), mining and quarrying (+2,6%) and manufacturing (+1,9%). Decreases were recorded for community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-20,0%), transport, storage and communication (-9,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-0,7%) and trade (-0,5%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R100 361 million in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 3,8% compared with R96 679 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. The largest percentage increase was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+125,5%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+1,4%). Decreases were recorded for mining and quarrying (-29,8%), trade (-19,3%), manufacturing (-19,2%), construction (-10,5%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-9,8%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-3,0%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 392 469 million in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 3,9% compared with R2 302 051 million in the first quarter of 2018. Six of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected an annual increase. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+16,2%), followed by mining and quarrying (+9,0%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+7,2%), transport, storage and communication (+4,1%), manufacturing (+3,5%), and trade (+2,8%). Decreases were recorded in construction (-6,0%) and electricity, gas and water supply (-1,1%).

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