Press statement

For immediate release

18 May 2016

Stats SA publishes quarterly estimates of gross domestic product. The next statistical release, with estimates of the first quarter 2016, was scheduled for Tuesday 7 June 2016.

The publication will be unique as it will be the first time after seven decades, that Stats SA publishes estimates of GDP from both the production and the expenditure sides of the economy. Please note that the data will be released on Wednesday 8th June 2016.

For continuity and context for the first quarter GDP results, revised GDP estimates for the period 2010–2015 (quarterly) will be published. The revised time-series, from both the production and expenditure sides, will be made available on Stats SA’s website on Monday 23 May 2016 at 14:00. A comprehensive sources and methods document as well as an information paper will also be published.

One important technical feature that users will see is that when Stats SA publishes expenditure on GDP, it will not contain a “residual item”. Consequently, this will be one source of difference between the revised expenditure on GDP estimates and those published previously by the South African Reserve Bank. Furthermore, expenditure on GDP will differ from official GDP measured by production.

For media enquiries:

Trevor Oosterwyk

Chief Director: Communications

trevoro@statssa.gov.za

082 908 9104

For technical enquiries:

Michael Manamela

Chief Director: National Accounts

082 888 2205

michaelm@statssa.gov.za

Joe de Beer

Deputy Director-General

Economic statistics

joedb@statssa.gov.za

082 888 2600