Key Findings | Statistics South Africa

Key findings: P0044 - Quarterly financial statistics (QFS), March 2026

The total turnover of quarterly financial statistics (QFS) industries1 in the first quarter of 2026 was estimated at R3 750 066 million (R3,75 trillion), a decrease of 4,6% compared with the fourth quarter of 2025 (R3 932 392 million or R3,93 trillion).

Between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, turnover decreased in five of the eight industries covered by the survey. The largest percentage decrease in turnover was recorded in electricity, gas and water supply (-8,2%), followed by manufacturing (-6,6%), transport, storage and communication (-6,4%), trade (-5,8%) and construction (-1,3%). Increases were recorded in community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+1,6%) and mining and quarrying (+1,4%).

Total closing inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2026 were estimated at R1 444 512 million, an increase of 0,3% compared with R1 440 460 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. Increases were recorded in construction (+21,7%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+4,2%), manufacturing (+1,7%), electricity, gas and water supply (+1,2%) and mining and quarrying (+1,0%). Decreases were recorded in transport, storage and communication (-15,7%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (-4,3%) and trade (-2,1%).

Turnover was estimated at R3 750 066 million in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 9,0% compared with R3 438 935 million in the first quarter of 2025. All eight industries covered by the survey reflected annual increases. The largest percentage increase in turnover was recorded in mining and quarrying (+31,6%), followed by transport, storage and communication (+19,2%), real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance) (+10,7%), manufacturing (+6,8%), trade (+5,3%), construction (+3,5%), community, social and personal services (excluding government and educational institutions) (+2,1%) and electricity, gas and water supply (+1,6%).

Economic Stats

Joe de Beer (Deputy Director-General)
012 310 8024
082 888 2600
joedb@statssa.gov.za

Peter Perkins
(Economist)
012 310 8389
082 883 9532
peterp@statssa.gov.za

Social Stats

Gwen Lehloenya (Acting Deputy Director-General)
012 310 8333
082 888 2323
gwenL@statssa.gov.za

Neo Nghenavo
(Director)
012 310 8047
082 888 2613
neon@statssa.gov.za

**Scroll for more contacts by subject area**
Topic	Contact	Alternative Contact
Consumer price index (CPI), Producer price index (PPI), Unit value indices: exports / imports, Construction materials price indices	Patrick Kelly (Chief Director) 012 310 8290 082 888 2248 patrickke@statssa.gov.za	Marietjie Bennett (Director) 012 310 8077 082 888 2194 marietjieb@statssa.gov.za
Government finance: national and provincial government	Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za	Elizabeth Makhafola (Director) 012 310 8977 082 888 9062 elizabethma@statssa.gov.za
Government finance: local government	Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za	Malibongwe Mhemhe (Director) 012 310 6928 082 906 8964 malibongwem@statssa.gov.za
Supply and use tables, Satellite accounts, Regional GDP	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za
Gross domestic product (GDP), production	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za	Bontlenyana Makhoba(Chief Economist) 012 310 8567 bontlenyanam@statssa.gov.za
Gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za	Litshani Ligudu (Director) 012 310 4674 082 884 4279 litshanil@statssa.gov.za
Environmental-economic accounts	Gerhardt Bouwer (Chief Director) 012 310 8241 082 888 2409 gerhardb@statssa.gov.za	Riaan Grobler (Director) 012 406 3474 084 515 2908 riaang@statssa.gov.za
Mining, manufacturing, electricity, capacity utilisation	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Nicolai Claassen (Director) 012 310 8007 076 759 0200 nicolaic@statssa.gov.za
Retail, wholesale, motor, land transport	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Keshnee Naidoo (Director) 012 310 8423 083 689 5341 keshneen@statssa.gov.za
Building, liquidations, civil cases for debt, food & beverages, tourist accommodation	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Joyce Essel-Mensah (Director) 012 310 8255 082 888 2374 joycee@statssa.gov.za
Annual financial statistics (AFS)	Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za	Amukelani Ngobeni (Director) 012 310 2938 082 677 4536 amukelanin@statssa.gov.za
Quarterly financial statistics (QFS)	Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za	Krisseelan Govinden (Director) 012 310 4651 082 901 7960 krisseelang@statssa.gov.za
Structural industry statistics (large sample surveys of industries every 3 to 5 years; agriculture)	Itani Magwaba (Chief Director) 012 337 6471 / 6254 082 905 5143 itanim@statssa.gov.za	Tshepo Pekane (Director) 012 310 8191 083 675 8654 tshepop@statssa.gov.za
Population Statistics (Census and Community Survey)	Christine Khoza (Chief Director) 012 310 2185 071 670 2672 christinek@statssa.gov.za	Angela Ngyende (Chief Statistician) 012 310 4699 079 519 3212 angelan@statssa.gov.za
Demography-Mid-year Population Estimates	Diego Iturralde (Chief Director) 012 310 8922 082 413 2661 diegoi@statssa.gov.za	Chantal Munthree (Chief Statistician) 012 310 6648 082 888 2289 chantalMu@statssa.gov.za
Labour Statistics- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS)	Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za	Desiree Manamela (Director) 012 310 2145 071 681 2768 DesireeM@statssa.gov.za Malerato Mosiane (Chief Statistician) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za
Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES)	Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 8882449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za	Matlapane Masupye (Acting Director) 012 310 8168 082 317 5340 matlapanem@statssa.gov.za
Tourism Statistics (Domestic Tourism Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Brenda Mosima (Director) 012 310 8168 082 906 7925 BrendaMo@statssa.gov.za
Crime and Safety Statistics (Victims of Crime Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Joseph Lukhwareni (Director) 012 310 8485 082 888 2486 JosephL@statssa.gov.za
Service Delivery Statistics (General Household Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Niel Roux (Director) 012 310 2939 082 904 7919 NielR@statssa.gov.za
Transport Statistics (National Travel Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Solly Molayi (Director) 012 310 6442 083 440 7035 SollyMol@statssa.gov.za
Gender Statistics	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Tshepo Mabela (Director) 012 310 8587 082 941 9383 TshepoMab@statssa.gov.za
Mortality and Causes of Deaths	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Tourism and Migration	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za
Registered Births	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Marriages and Divorces	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za
Living Conditions Survey	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Income and Expenditure Survey	Nozipho Shabalala (Chief Director ) 012 310 6994 082 904 8896 Noziphos@statssa.gov.za	Werner Ruch (Director) 012 310 6318 082 906 7967 wernerr@statssa.gov.za

Key findings: P0044 - Quarterly financial statistics (QFS), March 2026

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