IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The estimated manufacturing production for November 2008 decreased by 4,4% compared with the same month a year ago, following negative annual growth of -1,8% for October 2008. The seasonally adjusted manufacturing production for the three months ended November 2008 decreased by 3,1% compared with the previous three months. The decrease was driven mainly by lower production in three divisions, namely basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (contributing -1,6 percentage points), petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (contributing -1,0 percentage point) and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (contributing -0,7 of a percentage point).

Manufacturing production for the first eleven months of 2008 increased by 1,8% compared with the same period in 2007, which is lower than the annual increase of 4,1% reported for 2007 when compared with 2006.

The estimated total value of sales of manufactured products at current prices for the three months ended November 2008 decreased by 4,2% (-R14 830 million), after seasonal adjustment, compared with the previous three months. Lower manufacturing sales were reported by five of the ten manufacturing divisions during this period.