Data from Stats SA’s Annual financial statistics (AFS) report shows that the debt-to-equity ratio for the private sector as a whole has dropped since 2005. The debt-to-equity ratio is a measure of how much debt a company or industry has incurred to finance its operations relative to equity. Debt refers to how much an industry   read more »

Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Financial Statistics report provides detailed financial statistics on the private sector, for the quarter ending September 2015. How did business turnover fare over this period? The following short article covers key turnover statistics from the report. Total turnover Total turnover in the private sector increased by 3,3% in the September 2015   read more »

15 January 2016 In order to improve navigation on the home page of Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) website, the following changes will be done to the navigation scheme for the theme pages. Changes to theme page navigation Theme pages, which can be accessed from the Explore section on the front page of the website,   read more »

27 November 2015 Media Invite Stats SA to release various population statistics at the 7th African Population Conference, Pretoria Statistics South Africa will release a number of population-related statistics and monograph reports during the third day of the UASP’s 7th African Population Conference which will be held in Pretoria from 30 November until 4 December   read more »

In honour of cake day on 26 November, we are taking a fresh look at the latest price data of this popular dessert. Stats SA published a story on the price of cake in July 2015, we now look at how prices have changed since then. Interestingly, there hasn’t been any big changes. The average   read more »

South Africa’s economy grew by 0,7% in the third quarter of 2015, according to preliminary estimates of real gross domestic product (GDP) released by Stats SA. Unless otherwise stated, growth rates are quarter-on-quarter, seasonally adjusted and annualised. After experiencing a 1,3% contraction in the second quarter, the marginal GDP growth in the third quarter staved   read more »

The South African government expenditure on education increased by R20 billion between 2012/13 and 2013/14, based on data from Stats SA’s recent Financial statistics of consolidated general government release. Expenditure over time Total expenditure on education increased by R80 billion over a five-year period, from R169 billion in 2009/10 to R249 billion1 in 2013/14, an   read more »

African Statistics Day is celebrated every year on November 18. This celebration of African statistics aims to increase public awareness of the important role that statistics plays in all aspects of social and economic life in Africa and in preserving the environment in which people live. The theme for this year’s event is “Better data   read more »

Escalating operating costs have dampened profit growth since the 2009 recession, according to Stats SA’s latest Annual financial statistics report. Profits in the private sector have grown, but not as fast as turnover. Turnover totalled R7 767 billion in 2014, rising by 56,2% from R4 972 billion in 2008. Rising costs have eaten away at turnover, resulting   read more »

With South Africa in the grip of drought, the role of local municipalities to provide clean water, maintain infrastructure, and reduce wastage has become more important than ever. Recent data on staff vacancies show which municipalities are struggling to fill funded posts in their water management departments. Municipalities in Free State seem to be struggling   read more »