South African Households Spend R3 Trillion Annually

South African Households Spend R3 Trillion Annually

South African households collectively spent an estimated R3 trillion between November 2022 and November 2023, with the average annual household consumption expenditure amounting to approximately R143 691 during the survey year. These findings are according to the Income & Expenditure Survey (IES) 2022/2023, published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The survey provides valuable insights   read more »


Inflation inches higher to 3,0%

Inflation inches higher to 3,0%

Consumer inflation increased for a second consecutive month, rising to 3,0% in December from 2,9% in November and 2,8% in October. The monthly rate in December was 0,1%. Food inflation creeps higher Inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) was 2,5%, up from 2,3% in November. The annual rate for bread & cereals remained steady   read more »


Are South African industries dominated by a few firms?

Are South African industries dominated by a few firms?

Market share can be dominated by (and concentrated in) a few firms or shared more broadly across the economy. Concentration ratios and data on small, medium and large enterprises provide insight into the structure of our industries. Concentration ratios for selected markets The concentration ratio indicates the degree to which market share is distributed across   read more »


Third quarter 2024 sees drop in SA’s formal non-agricultural employment

Third quarter 2024 sees drop in SA’s formal non-agricultural employment

According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q3:2024) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 133 000 in the third quarter of 2024, bringing the level of employment to 10,6 million. According to the survey 294 000 jobs were lost between September 2023 and September 2024.   read more »


Inflation edges higher in November

Inflation edges higher in November

Annual consumer inflation was 2,9% in November, slightly up from 2,8% in October. There was no change in the consumer price index (CPI) between October and November. Food inflation is the lowest in 14 years Annual inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) witnessed another sharp decline in November, slowing to 2,3% from 3,6% in   read more »


30 Years of Data: Shaping South Africa’s Equitable Future

30 Years of Data: Shaping South Africa’s Equitable Future

In 2024, South Africa marks 30 years of democracy—a milestone that coincides with the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994. This dual commemoration underscores the transformative power of inclusive data to shape equitable futures, the theme of this year’s World Population Day which was   read more »


Economic activity declines in the third quarter

Economic activity declines in the third quarter

Real South African gross domestic product (GDP) weakened by 0,3% in the third quarter (July–September) of 2024.1 The agriculture industry was the main drag on growth on the production (supply) side of the economy, with transport, trade and government services also contributing to the slowdown. On the expenditure (demand) side, there was a decline in   read more »


Economic wrap-up for November 2024

Economic wrap-up for November 2024

Stats SA published 22 releases in November, many of which provide a preliminary snapshot of economic performance in the third quarter (July–September). An overview of the quarter A number of sectors witnessed a rise in economic activity in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the second quarter of 2024. Mining, manufacturing, electricity generation, construction   read more »


South Africa Launches Cutting-Edge Labour Market Information System

In a major stride toward addressing employment challenges, South Africa has officially launched its Labour Market Information System (LMIS), a groundbreaking platform aimed at revolutionising how labour data is collected, analysed, and shared. The LMIS, unveiled in September 2024, is a collaborative effort led by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the International Labour   read more »


How did government spending shift in 2022/23?

How did government spending shift in 2022/23?

The latest set of consolidated government financial data show a rise in spending between the 2021/22 and 2022/23 fiscal years. Several government functions benefited from the increase, while others recorded declines. The Financial statistics of consolidated general government statistical release provides a complete overview of revenue and spending across all 702 government institutions, including national,   read more »