South Africa’s unemployment rate decreased by 0,2 of a percentage point to 32,7% in Q4:2022 compared to Q3:2022. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2022, there were about 28 thousand more people who were unemployed than in Q3:2022. In the fourth quarter of 2022, South Africa had 7,8   read more »

Retail trade statistics have a strong seasonal pattern. For instance, actual retail sales are usually much higher in November and December because of the effect of Black Friday and the festive season. Seasonal adjustment removes these effects based on historical patterns, which helps with the analysis of underlying trends. Stats SA has published seasonally adjusted   read more »

Consumer inflation hit its highest level in 13 years during 2022. The average inflation rate for the year (6,9%) hides the differences in timing and extent of price increases for different product groups. Transport and food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) had the biggest impact on overall inflation. Breaking the year down, the headline rate was   read more »

Annual consumer price index (CPI) inflation registered its second monthly decline in December, edging lower to 7,2% from 7,4% in November and 7,6% in October. The monthly rate in December was 0,4%.   The December release concludes the results for the calendar year. Average annual inflation for 2022 was 6,9%, higher than the 4,5% recorded   read more »

Consumer price inflation moderated slightly in November to 7,4% from 7,6% in October. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,3% in November, slightly lower than the 0,4% recorded in October. The three categories with the highest annual inflation rates in November were transport (15,3%), food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) (12,5%) and   read more »

After contracting by 0,7% in the second quarter of 2022, the economy rallied in the third quarter, expanding by 1,6%.1 The agriculture, finance, transport and manufacturing industries were the main drivers of growth on the supply side of the economy. The demand side of the economy was lifted by a rise in exports and government   read more »

South African government spending broke the R2 trillion mark in the 2020/21 financial year. Large increases in expenditure were recorded for social protection, health, and general public services as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, total revenue declined on the back of lower taxes received. The Financial statistics of consolidated general government   read more »

With Black Friday upon us, South African consumers have begun scouting for the latest deals. Monthly retail trade sales data show how Black Friday has shifted shopping behaviour over time. Consumers splurge during the festive season The graphic below shows the distribution of retail trade sales by month, for the year 2019. If all months   read more »

Consumer price inflation picked up slightly in October, rising to 7,6% from 7,5% in September. The monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,4%, up from 0,1%. Bread & cereals, meat and dairy drive food prices higher The annual rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages edged higher to 12,0% from 11,9% in September.   read more »

Data from 745 institutions provides an update on public-sector investment in infrastructure. A number of institutions pulled back on capital expenditure in 2021, while others increased their spending. Public-sector capital expenditure decreased by R6,1 billion (-3,0%) between 2020 and 2021, from R204,3 billion to R198,2 billion, representing the fifth consecutive year of decline. Capital expenditure represents money spent   read more »