IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

After a busy June, Stats SA’s publication schedule was quieter in July. The agency published 22 releases. Key highlights include an update on inflation and an exploration of South Africa’s biodiversity-based tourism sector.

Consumer inflation softens to a six-month low

Headline inflation edged lower to 5,1% in June from 5,2% in May. June’s print is the lowest since December 2023 when the rate was also 5,1%.

The softer rate is in part due to the slowdown in inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB), which is at its lowest level in almost four years. Several food & NAB categories recorded lower annual rates in June, including sugar, sweets & desserts; vegetables; fruit; milk, eggs & cheese; and fish. However, inflation was warmer for hot beverages; bread & cereals; oils & fats; cold beverages and meat.

Falling fuel prices also helped. Fuel was 4,6% cheaper in June compared with May, with both petrol and diesel prices lower in the month. A litre of inland 95-octane petrol was R24,25 in June, down from R25,49 in May. The all-time high was R26,74 in July 2022.¹ Softer fuel prices helped pull overall transport inflation down in June.

Biodiversity-based tourism data a first for SA

Transport is a crucial service for tourists. A new report on South Africa’s biodiversity-based tourism sector provides data on the spending habits of domestic (resident) and inbound (non-resident) visitors. In 2019, passenger transportation services was the biggest expenditure item for domestic visitors engaged in biodiversity-based tourism. For inbound visitors, the biggest spending item was sports and recreational services.

Biodiversity-based tourism, which includes activities linked to natural ecosystems or indigenous species, drove 13,3% of all tourism activity in 2019. The report, published as a discussion document, also provides data on employment numbers as well as the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).

A detailed look at the post and telecommunications industry

Reliable telecommunications services allow tourists to keep in touch with loved ones while away from home. For most of us, constant internet access is a vital part of daily life. In 2022, telecommunications services generated R254 billion in income, according to a recent report. Mobile voice was the biggest earner, accounting for just over a third of the total.

Significant changes have occurred across the post and telecommunications landscape since 2019. First, fibre-optic broadband has risen sharply to replace ADSL. Second, traditional postal services are no longer in vogue, becoming less popular as courier-related activities take over.

The much older and stodgier relative of modern messaging apps is still hanging on, although less so than in 2019. Short messaging services (SMS) generated R1,5 billion in 2022, down from 2019’s R3,4 billion.

The latest monthly indicators

Figure 1 provides a bird’s eye view of the current state of the economy. On a month-on-month basis, several sectors were weaker in May. Mining, manufacturing, electricity generation, construction (buildings reported as completed to larger municipalities), wholesale trade, retail trade, motor trade and road transport all recorded a weaker month.

On the upside, tourist accommodation; restaurants, catering & fast-food; and rail transport were stronger.

What to look forward to in August

Notable releases in the next month include the latest set of employment and unemployment data on 13 August and government financial data for extra-budgetary accounts and funds (EBAs) on 29 August. Examples of EBAs include the Road Accident Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the South African Revenue Service.

Interested to know more? Keep up to date with our publication schedule here. For a comprehensive list of products and releases, download our catalogue here. For a regular update of indicators and infographics, visit our data story feed and download the latest edition of the Stats Biz newsletter.

¹ Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Comparing prices for petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin (IP) (click here).