IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

How well have South African businesses performed? This can be a complicated question that can be tackled with a range of indicators. From the wealth of financial data available from the recently published Quarterly Financial Statistics (QFS), Stats SA takes a look at one such indicator: the profit margin ratio.   A limitation of financial   read more »

Stats SA distinguishes between various types of construction activities, including free-standing houses, townhouses, flats, offices and shopping space. The following infographic shows which of these are the most costly to build, according to Stats SA’s latest Selected building statistics of the private sector as reported by local government institutions. Nationally, it would cost you an   read more »

Media Invite 1 July 2016 Statistician-General to release formal sector employment statistics for the first quarter of 2016   The Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla, will release the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) for the first quarter of 2016. The QES measures changes in employment across all industries in the formal sector of the   read more »

Patrick Kelly, Executive Manager for Price Statistics, provides some insights into how inflation affects the most vulnerable. The combined effect of the severe drought and the depreciation of the rand drove annual food inflation to 9,8% in March, its highest level in four years. Periods of high food inflation often spark an outpouring of concern   read more »

The South African economy was hit hard by the global economic crisis of 2008/2009. The country’s manufacturing industry contracted sharply, and its subsequent recovery has been insufficient for the volume of manufacturing production to return to its pre-crisis level. Figure 1 shows SA’s manufacturing production (volume) compared with OECD industrial production.1 Preliminary manufacturing data for   read more »

Media Release                                                                                          17 November 2015 Private sector companies record turnover increases The total turnover for private sector enterprises1 operating in the South African economy increased by 10,9% to R7 766 625 million (R7,8 trillion) in 2014, from R7 001 362 million (R7,0 trillion) in 2013. For the reference period, turnover increased in   read more »

Stats SA recently released results of its large sample survey covering the electricity, gas and water supply industry in South Africa, for the year 2013. The report provides information on the size, nature and structure of the industry. Also included in the report is information on employment, trading income, expenditure, profit or loss, inventories, sales   read more »

Stats SA recently released results of its large sample survey covering the post and telecommunications industry in South Africa, for the year 2013. The report provides detailed information on the size, nature and structure of the industry. Also included in the report is information on employment, trading income, expenditure, profit or loss, inventories, sales and   read more »

14 September 2015   Stats SA releases Large Sample Survey reports   The Statistician-General, Mr Pali Lehohla, will release the three following Large Sample Survey reports: 1. Electricity, Gas and Water Supply Industry (2013) – 10h00 The results presented in this publication were derived from the 2013 Electricity, gas and water supply industry large sample   read more »

Manufacturing production increased by 5,6% year-on-year in July 2015, driven mostly by a 39,6% year-on-year production rise in the automotive industry and a 17,4% year-on-year rise in the metals and machinery industry. It would be tempting to rejoice in response to these pronounced increases, but the figures don’t tell the whole story. These increases do   read more »