Subdued monthly Producer price index (PPI) in September led the annual PPI for final manufactured goods (headline PPI) to drop to 6,9% from 7,2% in August. Food products, beverages and tobacco products remain the main contributors to the annual PPI. Monthly PPI for agriculture increased with 3,2% in September due to higher prices of live   read more »

Quarterly changes reflect an increase in employment (22 000) and a decrease in unemployment (3 000). This resulted in a slight decrease in the unemployment rate from 25,5% in quarter 2: 2014 to 25,4% (0,1 of a percentage point) in quarter 3: 2014. Job gains were recorded in both the formal (88 000) and informal (28 000) sectors between   read more »

MEDIA ADVISORY For Immediate Release Date: 24 October 2014 Contact: Lesedi Dibakwane 0828057088 lesedid@statssa.gov.za Release of Quarterly Labour Force Survey Third Quarter (Q3) Results Statistician General Pali Lehohla, will release the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the Third Quarter of 2014. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) is a household-based survey   read more »

On 25 November 2014 Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will publish the first estimates of gross domestic product for the 3rd quarter of 2014. This statistical release will, however, differ from previous releases in two important aspects. Benchmarking and rebasing It is good international practice to periodically change the reference year used in economic statistics,   read more »

The annual inflation rate dropped to 5,9% in September from 6,4% in August. This is the first month since February that it is below the ceiling of the Reserve Bank’s target. The 0,5% drop in the rate was largely because of a 67c/l drop in the petrol price. This is equivalent to a decrease of   read more »

The amount of money received as tuition fees by South Africa’s 23 higher education institutions rose by 9,2%, from R16 billion in 2012 to R17 billion in 2013. This is according to data analysed for Stats SA’s latest Financial Statistics of Higher Education Institutions release. The University of Johannesburg recorded the highest increase (29,9%) in   read more »

Patrick Kelly – Executive manager for Price statistics, Statistics South Africa, explores the true cost of ‘Braai Day’. South Africans love meat. This is obvious from our cultural affinity for a braai or ShisaNyama. Many celebrated ‘Braai Day’ on this week’s Heritage Day holiday. This importance is also evident from the prominence of meat products   read more »

The percentage of the population aged 60 years and above rose from 7,1% in 1996 to 8,0% in 2011, constituting an increase from 2,8 million to 4,1 million individuals. This is one of the findings contained in the Profile of Older Persons in South Africa report, which was released by Stats SA at the Population   read more »

Of the R395 billion spent by provincial government during the 2012/13 financial year, 43% (R170 billion) was spent on education, while 30% (R119 billion) was spent on health. This is one of the findings from the latest release of Stats SA’s Financial Statistics of Provincial Government report, published on 29 September 2014. The remaining R106   read more »

Municipal total income for the quarter ending June 2014 amounted to R68,4 billion; the main source of income was from sales of electricity, contributing 29,5% (R20,2 billion). This was one of the findings from the latest Quarterly Financial Statistics of Municipalities (QFSM) report, released on the 29th September. Other contributors to municipal income were grants   read more »