Category Archives: Economic growth

CPI drops to levels last seen in 2011

CPI drops to levels last seen in 2011

Annual CPI inflation dropped to 4,4% in January 2015 from 5,3% in December 2014, the lowest since April 2011, when the CPI stood at 4,2%. Key drivers pulling the CPI down were petrol and food. The 127c/l drop in the price of petrol in January further contributed to the decline in the CPI for petrol,   read more »


Manufacturing continues to disappoint as the South African economy grows by 1,4% in the third quarter

Manufacturing continues to disappoint as the South African economy grows by 1,4% in the third quarter

The manufacturing industry recorded the third consecutive quarter-on-quarter contraction in 2014, shrinking by 3,4% in the third quarter of 2014. In the second quarter manufacturing posted a growth rate of -4,0% and in the first quarter -6,4%.  The other industry that recorded a negative growth rate in the third quarter was electricity, gas and water,   read more »


Countdown to an all new GDP

Countdown to an all new GDP

On Tuesday, 25 November 2014, Stats SA will introduce new and improved GDP estimates. In the following video clip, the Deputy Director-General for Economic Statistics, Joe de Beer, provides a brief overview of the changes and what you can expect from Tuesday’s release. Click here for the video clip To ensure that gross domestic product   read more »


Stats SA to release revised gross domestic product estimates in November

Stats SA to release revised gross domestic product estimates in November

On 25 November 2014 Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will publish the first estimates of gross domestic product for the 3rd quarter of 2014. This statistical release will, however, differ from previous releases in two important aspects. Benchmarking and rebasing It is good international practice to periodically change the reference year used in economic statistics,   read more »


First quarter GDP down

First quarter GDP down

The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices for the first quarter of 2014 decreased by an annualised rate of 0,6 percent. The main contributors to this decrease in economic activity were the mining and quarrying industry (-1,3 percentage points) and the manufacturing industry (-0,7 of a percentage point). The mining and   read more »


Fourth quarter GDP up by 3,8 per cent

Fourth quarter GDP up by 3,8 per cent

The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices for the fourth quarter of 2013 increased at an annualised rate of 3,8 per cent. The main contributors to this increase in economic activity were the manufacturing industry (1,8 percentage points) and the mining and quarrying industry (0,8 of a percentage point). The manufacturing   read more »


Automotive strikes hamper growth

Automotive strikes hamper growth

Before the slump in 2008/09 due to the global recession, manufacturing performed well, recording annual growth rates of 2,9%, 4,6% and 4,2% for 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. The recovery after the recession from 2010 to 2012 was sluggish, and 2013 showed anaemic annual growth of 1,3% to date. Factory output remains far from the   read more »


What is GDP and its impact?

What is GDP and its impact?

Government and all businesses, from small to multinational, need the facts on the economy that this release provides. Aneen Jordaan reports The gross domestic product (GDP) of a country is one of the main indicators used to measure the performance of a country’s economy. The Macmillan dictionary defines economy as the system by which a   read more »


Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for the first quarter of 2013 were released on 28 May 2013, at a press conference in Sandton, which included key stakeholders from other institutions. The much anticipated release drew wide reaction from various market watchers, while the media appreciated Stats SA’s initiative of taking data to them. “This is   read more »