Income

The total income for the retail trade industry in 2015 was R819 371 million. The total income represents an increase of 8,4% per annum over the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2012 (R642 653 million). Comparing 2012 and 2015, large increases were reported for 'non-specialised stores with food, beverages and tobacco predominating' (+R61 766 million) and ‘textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods’ (+R38 599 million).
Between 2005 and 2015, 'non-specialised stores with food, beverages and tobacco predominating' gained the biggest percentage share of income (8,6 percentage points) (from a percentage contribution of 26,6% in 2005 to 35,2% in 2015). ‘Other non-specialised stores' lost the biggest percentage share (3,3 percentage points) in the same period (from 10,4% in 2005 to 7,1% in 2015).

Expenditure

Expenditure in the retail trade industry in 2015 amounted to R793 965 million. The expenditure consisted primarily of 'purchases' (R594 572 million or 74,9%) and 'employment costs' (R76 039 million or 9,6%).

Employment

The total number of persons employed in the retail trade industry as at the end of June 2015 was 812 104. 'Non-specialised stores with food, beverages and tobacco predominating’ employed the largest number of persons (302 433 or 37,2%), followed by ‘textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods' (189 022 or 23,3%).
Formal employment in the retail industry increased from 580 265 in 2005 to 812 104 in 2015 (a gain of 231 839 jobs between 2005 and 2015). The highest growth in employment since 2005 was in 'non-specialised stores with food, beverages and tobacco predominating' (+157 422), followed by 'textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods' (+64 486). The biggest loss in employment during the same period was in 'repair of personal and household goods and retail trade not in stores' (-22 444 jobs).