When the COVID-19 lockdown went into effect on 27 March, the range of products available to households for purchase was restricted to a set of defined essential goods and services. Since the beginning of the lockdown, Stats SA has been measuring price changes for those essential goods that appear in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)   read more »

Annual CPI inflation nudged lower to 4,1% in March from February’s reading of 4,6%. There were two key features of the CPI in March: the incorporation of fee data from educational institutions (including crèches) and the effect of the latest increases in excise tariffs. Tuition fees are surveyed once a year in March. On average,   read more »

Media release                                                                                               21 April 2020  COVID-19: Four in ten businesses feel that they cannot continue to operate  The results of a rapid response survey conducted by Stats SA during the lockdown was released today. Businesses were asked how the current crisis affected their operations in the two-week period from 30 March to 13 April 2020.   read more »

A rapid response survey, conducted by Stats SA during the lockdown, asked businesses how the current crisis is affecting their operations in the two-week period from 30 March to 13 April 2020. This is what they told us. A total of 707 businesses in the formal sector responded to the survey, outlining the pandemic’s impact   read more »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) is appealing to the public to participate in an online survey it launched recently to gauge the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Accurate, real-time statistics are of utmost importance in times of crisis,” said Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke. “These surveys will be used to see how COVID-19 has impacted the population,   read more »

Media release                                                                                                              17 April 2020 COVID-19 lockdown impacts publication of economic statistics  Statistics South Africa recently issued a media statement on the impact of the lockdown on data collection processes and scheduled web statistical releases. In light of the extension of the lockdown, we felt it important to keep the public apprised of the continuing   read more »

Background The personal, social and economic impact of COVID-19 is unlike anything experienced by the world in the past 75 years. Stats SA is aware of the need for timely data to understand these impacts, but is equally constrained by the restrictions put in place to manage the spread of the coronavirus. The task of   read more »

COVID-19, Coronavirus, social distancing or lockdown have become the talk of town. This is a period that will definitely find its way into the world’s history books. Many businesses were forced to put their operations on hold, workers, pupils and students have been forced to stay at home and the South African National Defense Force   read more »

Farmers sold over a billion chickens in 2017. This is one of many interesting facts to emerge from Stats SA’s latest set of reports on the Census of Commercial Agriculture. The beauty of the data that it allows researchers to drill down and explore patterns across districts and local municipalities. Explore commercial agriculture, as well   read more »