The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries¹ in the third quarter of 2019 was estimated at R2 513 075 million (R2,51 trillion), an increase of 1,6% compared with the second quarter of 2019 (R2 473 320 million or R2,47 trillion).

Between the second and third quarters of 2019, turnover increased in six of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+23,4%), followed by construction (+3,8%), transport, storage and communication (+2,6%), manufacturing (+2,4%), trade (+1,4%) and community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+0,8%). Decreases were recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-3,7%) and mining and quarrying (-1,8%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the third quarter of 2019 were estimated at R943 853 million, an increase of 1,4% compared with R931 196 million at the end of the second quarter of 2019. Increases were recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+9,7%), mining and quarrying (+7,2%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+5,2%) and trade (+1,2%). Decreases were recorded for transport, storage and communication (-8,0%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-0,9%), manufacturing (-0,3%) and construction (-0,2%).

Total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was estimated at R81 419 million in the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 1,9% compared with R79 890 million in the second quarter of 2019. The largest percentage increase was recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+50,4%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+17,5%), construction (+13,6%),  electricity, gas and water supply (+6,4%) and manufacturing (+3,8%). Decreases were recorded for real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (-11,3%), mining and quarrying (-9,2%) and trade (-8,5%).

Turnover was estimated at R2 513 075 million in the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 3,1% compared with R2 437 112 million in the third quarter of 2018. All of the eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual increases. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (+13,0%), followed by community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+12,4%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+7,0%), mining and quarrying (+6,1%), transport, storage and communication (+5,9%), trade (+1,3%), manufacturing (+0,6%) and construction (+0,6%).