The June 2014 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that total formal non-agricultural employment increased by 155 000 jobs in the second quarter. The quarterly increase in employment was mainly due to increases in the community, social and personal services industry (+143 000 or +5,8%); the trade industry (+17 000 or +1,0%); the construction industry (+5 000 or +1,2%);   read more »

Consumer inflation (headline CPI) edged up slightly to 6,4% in August compared with July’s reading of 6,3%. The increase was mainly a result of upward pressure from food and motor vehicle prices.  Annual food and beverage inflation, which registered 8,8% in June and July, climbed to 9,4% in August.  Food inflation has been increasing since   read more »

Annual consumer inflation for June was steady at 6,6%, with a monthly increase of 0,3%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices increased by a modest 0,1% between May and June resulting in an unchanged 8,8% annual rate.  Specific food items which continue to exert upward pressure on inflation are white bread (monthly increase of 1,9%) and full cream   read more »

Mining production decreased by 6,5% year-on-year in May 2014. The largest negative growth rates were recorded for Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) (-48,5%), ‘other’ non-metallic minerals (-13,3%) and building materials (-11,7%). The main contributor to the 6,5% decrease was PGMs (contributing -10,4 percentage points). Iron ore was a significant positive contributor (contributing 3,1 percentage points). The   read more »

Between December 2013 and March 2014, the non-agriculture formal sector of the South African economy experienced a net increase of 9 000 employees (+0,1%), from 8 498 000 to 8 507 000 individuals. This increase was mainly due to increases in the community, social and personal services industry which gained 50 000 employees (+2,1%); the finance industry (+7 000 or +0,4%); and   read more »

The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices for the first quarter of 2014 decreased by an annualised rate of 0,6 percent. The main contributors to this decrease in economic activity were the mining and quarrying industry (-1,3 percentage points) and the manufacturing industry (-0,7 of a percentage point). The mining and   read more »

The 2011 population census included a set of questions designed to gather information about households that are involved in some form of agricultural activity. These results were made available on a provincial basis on 31 March 2014. Stats SA can now disseminate the information on a municipal level as well. To illustrate its use, the   read more »

Consumer inflation edged up to 5,9% in February, just under the SARB target ceiling of 6%, from the 5,8% recorded in January. The monthly increase was 1,1%. There were three main groups contributing to the upward pressure this month – food, petrol and health insurance. Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation increased to 5,4%, from 3,5%    read more »

The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices for the fourth quarter of 2013 increased at an annualised rate of 3,8 per cent. The main contributors to this increase in economic activity were the manufacturing industry (1,8 percentage points) and the mining and quarrying industry (0,8 of a percentage point). The manufacturing   read more »

If you were fortunate enough to go away during the December holidays, January may be the time you look back on how much it all cost you. CPI inflation for December 2013 was 5,4%, slightly higher than the 5,3% of November 2013. But most of the specific holiday costs are showing inflation rates above this average. If you   read more »