The payment of salaries and wages accounts for a sizable portion of the municipal budget. A 20-year review of local government spending shows how the contribution of employee-related costs to total operational expenditure has shifted over time. Explore the municipal wage bill, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats   read more »

The recent painful rise in fuel prices follows a long series of increases over the years. A 50-year review reveals that a litre of inland 93-octane petrol cost 21,1c in January 1976, rising to 54,2c in June 1979. The R1 per litre mark was reached in November 1985, increasing to R5 two decades later. Explore the rise in   read more »

The education component in the CPI is updated once a year in March. Tuition fees increased by 5,4% in 2026, higher than the 4,5% rise recorded in 2025. Private secondary schools recorded the sharpest rise, climbing by 7,5%. Explore education inflation, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. DownloadStatsBiz – April   read more »

South African tourism had a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummeting visitor numbers led to job losses across the sector. Recovery has been slow, but recent data show a positive trend. In 2019, an estimated 777686 individuals were directly employed by the tourism sector, declining sharply to 456311 individuals in 2020 as the pandemic   read more »

The braai brought many friends and family together this past December. South Africa’s favourite pastime is a staple of any holiday season. An exploration of ten favourite braai-related items shows that the activity has become more expensive over time. Explore the cost of a braai, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats   read more »

A healthy agricultural industry is vital to economic development, employment and food security. Horticultural crops account for the largest share of income from sales of goods in South African commercial agriculture, followed by field crops, animals and animal products. Explore the products that drive the agricultural industry in this edition of Stats Biz Download Stats   read more »

Each city develops its residential landscape in its own, unique way. Do town planners opt to spread a city outward with more free-standing homes, upward with high-density housing, or a combination of both? Explore how the development of housing is taking shape in our metros, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats   read more »

Infrastructure forms the backbone that connects different parts of the economy, supporting the flow of goods, travel and communication. Public-sector capital expenditure continued an upward trajectory, rising to R276 billion in 2024 from R234 billion in 2023. This marks a third successive increase following a five-year downturn. Explore capital expenditure, as well as other stories,   read more »

Municipal debt figures can be sliced and diced in several ways. The debt-to-income ratio is one of many indicators used to gauge the financial health of municipalities, helping to answer the question of whether a municipality has the capacity to repay its debt from its income. Explore municipal debt, as well as other stories, in   read more »

Gambling and betting are on the rise in South Africa. Not only is this supported by data from the National Gambling Board, but it has also emerged in economic and household findings from Stats SA. Explore gambling, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats Biz – August 2025