It’s fascinating to think that one of the earliest experiments in free trade happened right here in southern Africa. Exactly 110 years ago this month, the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) was born. We explore data showing how the region depends on the oldest surviving trading bloc in the world. On 31 May 1910, South   read more »

The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2020 indicate that employment decreased by 38 000 to 16,4 million and the number of unemployed persons increased by 344 000 to 7,1 million. As a result, the official unemployment rate increased by 1 percentage point to (30,1%) compared to the fourth quarter   read more »

Annual CPI inflation for April reflects the impact of the first month of the COVID-19 lockdown. The rate dropped to 3,0% in April from 4,1% in March, the lowest reading since June 2005 when the rate was 2,8%. Consumer inflation is now at the bottom of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) target range of   read more »

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                   22 June 2020 Temporary closure of ISIbalo House due to positive COVID-19 case results in change of venue of QLFS media conference. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) head office, ISIbalo House, has been closed temporarily after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. All primary and secondary contacts will be traced and managed   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                                                                                                                                         9 June 2020                                                                read more »

The second wave of Stats SA’s COVID-19 business impact survey provides an update on how firms are currently faring under lockdown. This second round covers the period 14 April to 30 April 2020. Explore the results of this survey, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats Biz – May   read more »

On 12 May 2020, the world observed International Nurses Day and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale under the theme ‘Nursing the World to Health’. Nightingale was the first person to turn the nursing profession into an organised sector with standardised roles and responsibilities. Nightingale is credited with founding the modern profession   read more »

The COVID-19 pandemic and the drastic actions taken to prevent its spread have fundamentally impacted the South African economy and Stats SA’s ability to measure it. Government imposed a restrictive five-week lockdown from 27 March to 30 April. Data collection for the March 2020 consumer price index had been completed before the lockdown and it   read more »

Media Release                                                                                                                                             20 May 2020                                                      8,1% of respondents lost jobs or had to close businesses 8,1% of respondents reported that they lost their jobs or had to close their businesses   read more »