Your monthly update on South Africa’s economic indicators
Stats Biz – July 2016
If you are a chocoholic, take note! Did you know that the average price of chocolate has risen sharply over the last two years? And that the price of your favourite slab varies by province? In honour of World Chocolate Day on 7 July, Stats SA provides you with a brief analysis of how chocolate read more »
Stats Biz – June 2016
Where are homes the most expensive to build? The answer might surprise you. Recent data published by Stats SA provides provincial breakdowns of construction costs, per square metre, for free-standing homes, flats, townhouses, office space and shopping space. Explore building prices, as well as other economic stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. read more »
Stats Biz – May 2016
Rising food prices are again in the spotlight. Stats Biz takes a closer look at food prices in this edition. Which provinces are experiencing high food inflation? What impact may rising food prices have on the poor? How quickly are vegetable and fruit prices climbing? Explore food prices, as well as other economic stories, in read more »
Stats Biz – April 2016
Many have commented on South Africa’s drought and how rapidly food prices have been rising. The latest release of Stats SA’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) unpacks the South African food basket to examine which items might be contributing to your rising grocery bill. Explore food prices, as well as other economic stories, in this edition read more »
Stats Biz – March 2016
Next time you dig into a delicious plate of fish and chips, take a moment to ponder the value of seafood as a resource. How has South Africa’s fish stocks changed since 2005? Estimates of quantities of fish available in our oceans, as well as data on catch numbers, were recently published in Stats SA’s read more »
Stats Biz – February 2016
Current data point to an agriculture industry that is struggling. During November 2015, in the midst of South Africa’s worst drought in 23 years, Stats SA released gross domestic product (GDP) figures showing three consecutive quarters of steep decline in agricultural activity. A number of forecasts suggest that food prices might rise sharply as a read more »
Stats Biz – January 2016
As a new year begins, Stats Biz takes a look at selected economic stories from 2015. During that year a rumour wobbled an industry; South Africa entered its worst drought in decades; tertiary education was rocked by protests over tuition fees; and the price of cake was most expensive in the Western Cape. Explore these, read more »
Stats Biz – November 2015
In honour of World Cake Day on 26 November, we took a look at the latest price data of this popular dessert. How has the price of cake changed over time? In which province is cake most expensive? And how does the price of cake compare to other desserts? Explore the price of cake, and read more »
Stats Biz – October 2015
With the announcement of a zero fee increase for higher education institutions next year (2016), the focus is now on where the money will be sourced to finance the expected shortfall. Recent data provide an indication of which universities are most dependent on tuition fees, and as a result might be most vulnerable to a read more »
Stats Biz – September 2015
The bucket toilet system remains a persistent phenomenon in seven of the nine provinces. Interestingly, 35% of consumer units serviced with bucket toilets in South Africa are concentrated in a single municipality: Nelson Mandela Bay in Eastern Cape. Learn more about the bucket system, and economic related statistics, in this edition of Stats Biz. read more »