IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Manufacturing production after seasonal adjustment continues to improve

The seasonally adjusted manufacturing production for the three months ended November 2009 increased by 2,9% compared with the previous three months ended August 2009, better than the 1,7% increase in the three months ended October 2009. Higher production levels were reported by five of the ten manufacturing divisions during the latest three months.

The increase was due to higher production in the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (6,5% and contributing 1,3 percentage points), the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (3,5% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point), the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (7,7% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point), the food and beverages division (1,0% and contributing 0,2 of a percentage point) and the furniture and other manufacturing division (1,5% and contributing 0,1 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted sales of manufactured products increase

The estimated total value of sales of manufactured products at current prices for the three months ended November 2009 increased by 2,8% (R7 871 million), after seasonal adjustment, compared with the previous three months ended August 2009. Higher manufacturing sales were reported by six of the ten manufacturing divisions during this period.

Large increases were mainly reported for the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (10,0% or R3 249 million), the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (5,7% or R3 083 million) and the food and beverages division (2,2% or R1 333 million) during the above-mentioned period