The seasonally adjusted real GDP at market prices for the second quarter of 2015 decreased by an annualised rate of 1,3 per cent compared with an increase of 1,3 per cent during the first quarter of 2015. The main contributors to the decrease in economic activity for the second quarter of 2015 were the manufacturing   read more »

South Africa’s economy contracted by 1,3% (seasonally adjusted and annualised) in the second quarter of 2015, according to preliminary estimates of real gross domestic product (GDP) released by Stats SA. The quarter-on-quarter decrease in overall economic activity was characterised by five of the ten main industry groups shrinking in size, while the other five experienced   read more »

Hotel occupancy fell to 48,2% in June 2015, according to preliminary figures in Stats SA’s latest Tourist accommodation release. The hotel occupancy rate followed a seasonal pattern by falling in June after peaking in both October (62,4%) and February (60,6%)1. However, hotels had proportionally fewer rooms filled in June compared with the same month in   read more »

Stats SA’s latest extra-budgetary accounts (EBA) statistical release contains economically and functionally classified financial data on 233 funds for the 2013/14 fiscal year. EBAs do not operate through normal parliamentary budgetary processes, but they perform an integral role in delivering services of the national government. Some examples of EBAs include the South African Revenue Service,   read more »

As we celebrate Women’s Month in August, the South African government has made headway to promote gender equality and empowerment of women and closing the gap by increasing the proportion of seats allocated to women in parliament. The promotion of gender equality and women empowerment are part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which must   read more »

If you are thinking of celebrating international beer day on 7 August 2015 with your favourite pint, take a few moments to consider how this beverage might affect your pocket. South Africans love their beer. Households allocated 60% of their expenditure on alcoholic beverages to this type of drink, followed by wine (23%) and spirits   read more »

Media Release                                                                                          04 August 2015 Slow growth rate in tourist arrivals in South Africa in 2014 but salient characteristics remain virtually unchanged According to the 2014 Tourism report released by Statistics South Africa, 9,5 million tourists were recorded among a total of 15,1 million people who arrived in South Africa in 2014. In the recent   read more »

MEDIA INVITE Statistician–General, Pali Lehohla, releases the tourism annual report The Statistician-General, Mr Pali Lehohla, will release the Tourism annual report on Tuesday, 4th August 2015. The report contains statistics on the number of travellers, including tourists, who arrive through South African ports of entry during 2014. The report will also include information on tourists’   read more »

In an environment of low real economic growth, South African public-sector institutions continued to plough an increasing amount of capital expenditure into the economy in the financial year 2013/14. This is evident from the latest capital expenditure survey, which indicates that total capital expenditure by the public sector rose from R224,8 billion in 2012/13 to   read more »

Rural municipalities continue to rely heavily on national government to finance their budgets, according to data from the latest release of Stats SA’s Financial census of municipalities report. For every R1 of revenue received by municipalities in the year 2014, 33c was in the form of grants and subsidies from national and provincial government. The   read more »