An increase in your electricity bill during the current spate of load shedding might put a damper on your holiday spirits, but recent financial data show that municipalities paid 10% more for electricity than they did a year ago. Stats SA’s latest release of the Quarterly financial statistics of municipalities report shows that municipalities spent   read more »

Annual CPI inflation dropped to 5,8% in November 2014 from 5,9% in October.  Petrol and food prices, which are key drivers of changes in the CPI both showed lower annual inflation rates.  Food inflation continued its slowing trend with a 7,7% annual rate compared to 8% in October.  The main drivers of the steadily declining   read more »

With last week’s income tax deadline still fresh in the minds of many South Africans, it is interesting to note that although the total amount of tax collected from individuals has been steadily increasing over the last four years, business tax hasn’t fared as well, with government receiving less tax from businesses in 2012/13 than   read more »

The manufacturing industry recorded the third consecutive quarter-on-quarter contraction in 2014, shrinking by 3,4% in the third quarter of 2014. In the second quarter manufacturing posted a growth rate of -4,0% and in the first quarter -6,4%.  The other industry that recorded a negative growth rate in the third quarter was electricity, gas and water,   read more »

On Tuesday, 25 November 2014, Stats SA will introduce new and improved GDP estimates. In the following video clip, the Deputy Director-General for Economic Statistics, Joe de Beer, provides a brief overview of the changes and what you can expect from Tuesday’s release. Click here for the video clip To ensure that gross domestic product   read more »

The total turnover measured for selected industries increased by 8,9%, from R6,4 trillion in 2012 to just under R7,0 trillion in 2013, despite a decrease of 11 324 enterprises between the two years1. Enterprises in the electricity, gas and water supply industry experienced the largest percentage increase in turnover (+12,5%). The results on what drives income   read more »

The headline inflation rate was steady at 5,9% in October 2014.  A 2,6% monthly increase in the price of beer was the main driver of the 0,2% change in the headline CPI between September and October.  For the first time, consumers now pay an average of R50 for a six pack of 340ml cans of locally made beer. Wine   read more »

The percentage of females employed in the community and social services sector (which includes government services) has shown the largest increase between 2001 and 2014, at just over 10%. The trade industry has shown the greatest decrease in the percentage of women employed (-9,8%), followed by the manufacturing (-3,5%) and agriculture (-2,2%) industries. This is   read more »

Subdued monthly Producer price index (PPI) in September led the annual PPI for final manufactured goods (headline PPI) to drop to 6,9% from 7,2% in August. Food products, beverages and tobacco products remain the main contributors to the annual PPI. Monthly PPI for agriculture increased with 3,2% in September due to higher prices of live   read more »

Quarterly changes reflect an increase in employment (22 000) and a decrease in unemployment (3 000). This resulted in a slight decrease in the unemployment rate from 25,5% in quarter 2: 2014 to 25,4% (0,1 of a percentage point) in quarter 3: 2014. Job gains were recorded in both the formal (88 000) and informal (28 000) sectors between   read more »