Impact of COVID-19 on Economic Statistics in Statistics South Africa
Background The personal, social and economic impact of COVID-19 is unlike anything experienced by the world in the past 75 years. Stats SA is aware of the need for timely data to understand these impacts, but is equally constrained by the restrictions put in place to manage the spread of the coronavirus. The task of read more »
Lockdown will impact on the collection and publication of official statistics
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA’s) ability to publish official statistics will be impacted by the lockdown announced by President Ramaphosa. As most businesses will be closed over that period, and movement will be restricted, data collection for both economic and household surveys will not be possible. As the lockdown goes into effect at midnight on read more »
GDP in the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased by 1,4%
Press statement                                                                                    Embargo: Tuesday 3 March 2020, 11:30 GDP in the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased by 1,4% Gross domestic product (measured by production) South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 1,4% in the fourth quarter of 2019.1 The transport, storage and communication industry read more »
CPI inflation edges lower in September
South African annual consumer inflation slowed in September, falling to 4,1% from 4,3% recorded in August. The inflation rate has hovered between 4% and 5% since December last year and has been below 4,5% for the past three months. More significantly, it has remained below the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) 6% monetary policy ceiling read more »
Mbalo Brief – September 2019
Citizens around the world celebrated International Literacy Day on 8 September 2019. This day, which was established by the United Nations (UN) in 1966, has been celebrated annually with the key aim to highlight improvements in literacy and numeracy rates while also providing a chance to reflect on the world’s literacy challenges. The UN has dubbed read more »
GDP in the second quarter of 2019 increased by 3,1%
Press statement                                                                    Embargo: Tuesday 3 September 2019, read more »
Economy dodges recession as GDP climbs 3,1%
After shrinking sharply in the first quarter of 2019, the economy rebounded from a low base to record positive growth of 3,1%1 in the second quarter (April−June). Mining, finance, trade and government services were the main drivers of growth. Three industries (construction, agriculture and transport) registered a slump in production. Mining was the strongest performer read more »
Economy stumbles in the first quarter
The South African economy slumped sharply in the first three months of 2019, contracting by 3,2%.1 Seven of the ten industries took a knock, with manufacturing, mining and trade the biggest contributors to the fall. Construction, mining and trade are in recession. The 3,2% decline is the biggest quarterly fall in economic activity since the read more »
Economy edges up by 0,8% in 2018
The South African economy grew by 1,4%1 in the fourth quarter of 2018, contributing to an overall growth rate of 0,8% for the entire year. The latest set of gross domestic product (GDP) figures released by Stats SA provides an overview of economic performance in 2018. South Africa found itself in economic recession in 2018, read more »
GDP in the second quarter of 2018 contracted by 0,7%
Press statement              Embargo: Tuesday 4 September 2018, 11:30 GDP in the second quarter of 2018 contracted by 0,7% Gross domestic product (measured by production) South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0,7% in the second quarter of 2018.1 The agriculture, read more »