Category Archives: Economy Data Stories

Media Announcement: Consumer Price Index (P0141) August 2016 – Release date 21 September 2016

Media Announcement                                                                                        13 September 2016   Consumer Price Index (P0141) August 2016 – Release date 21 September 2016 Not all items in the CPI are surveyed each month. A detailed survey schedule of the items that are not surveyed monthly is available in Table F of the monthly publication. Lotto tickets (Recreation and   read more »


Media Announcement: Producer Price Index for July published one hour late due to server downtime

Media Announcement                                                                                        13 September 2016   Producer Price Index for July published one hour late due to server downtime The Producer Price Index (PPI) for July 2016 was scheduled to be published on 25 August 2016 at 11:30 am.  The release fell in the week during which Stats SA’s offices were being   read more »


Positive GDP growth in the second quarter of 2016

Positive GDP growth in the second quarter of 2016

South Africa’s economy grew by 3,3% quarter-on-quarter (seasonally adjusted and annualised), according to estimates of real gross domestic product (measured by production). This is the fastest quarter-on-quarter rise in economic activity since the fourth quarter of 2014. Year-on-year growth in the second quarter of 2016 was 0,6%. The mining and manufacturing industries contributed over half   read more »


Mid-Year Estimates 2016

Mid-Year Estimates 2016

55,9 million people in South Africa:  Planning for a better tomorrow The population of South Africa is estimated to be 55, 9 million by end June 2016. Between 2002 and 2016 South Africa experienced a positive population growth year on year. Between 2002 and 2016, there was an overall increase in Life expectancy (55,2 to   read more »


A ten-year snapshot of business profitability in South Africa

A ten-year snapshot of business profitability in South Africa

How well have South African businesses performed? This can be a complicated question that can be tackled with a range of indicators. From the wealth of financial data available from the recently published Quarterly Financial Statistics (QFS), Stats SA takes a look at one such indicator: the profit margin ratio.   A limitation of financial   read more »


The secret life of a slab of chocolate

The secret life of a slab of chocolate

You might celebrate World Chocolate Day today (7 July) by sitting back and feasting on your favourite slab of sugary goodness. At Stats SA, we love our chocolate. But we also love data and all things statistical. So, to honour today, we’ve teased out a few facts about the price of chocolate that you, as   read more »


Construction: what are the costs per square metre?

Construction: what are the costs per square metre?

Stats SA distinguishes between various types of construction activities, including free-standing houses, townhouses, flats, offices and shopping space. The following infographic shows which of these are the most costly to build, according to Stats SA’s latest Selected building statistics of the private sector as reported by local government institutions. Nationally, it would cost you an   read more »


How much do municipalities spend on salaries?

How much do municipalities spend on salaries?

Municipalities spend more money on their employees than on any one of the services provided to their clients/customers. Data from Stats SA’s latest Financial census of municipalities provides interesting insight into the patterns of salary costs across municipalities, as well as over time. Salary patterns across space Employee-related costs took up the largest chunk of   read more »


The economy slides in the first quarter

The economy slides in the first quarter

A sharp contraction in mining tipped economic growth into negative territory in the first quarter of 2016. South Africa’s economy shrank by 1,2% quarter-on-quarter (seasonally adjusted and annualised), according to the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures published by Stats SA. Year-on-year growth for the same quarter was -0,2%. The supply side of the economy:   read more »


Statistician-General releases the findings of the General Household Survey, 2015

MEDIA INVITE 20 May 2016 The Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla, will release a report on the findings of the General Household Survey, 2015. The survey provides the latest statistics on education, health, the labour market, dwellings, access to services and facilities, transport, and the quality of life in South Africa. The media   read more »