STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA Stats SA provides scientific knowledge that enables society to understand complex socio-economic phenomena. It draws its mandate from the Statistics Act, 1999 (Act No 6 of 1999). Stats SA strives to excel in the following five competencies: Intellectual capability to lead the scientific work of statistics, Technological competence for purposes of large-scale   read more »

In September 2022, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) implemented new samples for the following monthly surveys: P3041.2 – Manufacturing: Production and sales; P6141.2 – Wholesale trade sales; P6242.1 – Retail trade sales; P6343.2 – Motor trade sales; P6410 – Tourist accommodation; P6420 – Food and beverages; and P7162 – Land transport.   New samples for   read more »

South Africa’s 122 provincial government departments spent R613,6 billion in 2020/21, according to the latest Financial statistics of provincial government statistical release. This is R16,9 billion more than the R596,8 billion recorded in 2019/20, representing a rise of 2,8%.1 The 2,8% rise is muted compared with the previous three years that recorded increases of around 7,0%. A closer   read more »

Annual consumer inflation dipped to 7,6% in August from 7,8% in July. The monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,2%, the lowest reading since January 2022 when it was also 0,2%. Fuel prices decreased by 3,8% between July and August, with petrol falling by 5,0% and diesel by 0,9%. This pushed the   read more »

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                              18 September 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Stats SA prepares to collect comprehensive information on household income and expenditure by visiting over 31 000 dwelling units across the country during the Income & Expenditure Survey (IES 2022/23). The IES 2022/23 is a household-based sample survey specifically designed to collect detailed household income and expenditure   read more »

After two consecutive quarters of positive growth, real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 0,7%1 in the second quarter of 2022 (Q2: 2022). The devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal and load shedding contributed to the decline, weakening an already fragile national economy that had just recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Manufacturing the biggest drag on GDP The flooding   read more »

Cautious relief was the response to Stats SA’s announcement in June that gross domestic product (GDP) had returned to pre-pandemic levels. The economy took seven quarters to get back on its feet while struggling under the strain of the pandemic. How does this compare with other countries? Data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides   read more »

The 254 institutions known as extra-budgetary accounts and funds (EBAs) form an important arm of government. Financial data for 2020/21 (1 April to 31 March) show a sharp rise in EBA spending as government rushed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Much of the increase was on social benefits, mainly for the COVID-19 Temporary   read more »

Over the past few years, South Africa has seen rising levels of crime. The issue of crime is one that is experienced by almost all citizens, irrespective of their economic status or where they live. New data released by Statistics South Africa shows that household crimes experienced in the twelve months preceding the interview increased   read more »

The South African economy took almost two years to recover from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. How does this compare with other countries? After plummeting in the second quarter of 2020 – when lockdown restrictions were at their most stringent – South African gross domestic product (GDP) clawed itself back to pre-pandemic levels in   read more »