Fast Stats
These monthly reports keep CRA subscribers up-to-date with over 200 economic and social indicators. All the data you need to make informed decisions to successfully navigate complexity in South Africa.
October 2021
18 October 2021 - The CRA's Fast Stats provides data-driven insights into current political and economic trends.
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Key takeaways:
- The Leading Business Indicator in July 2021 was down 2.5% compared to June 2021.
- The headline inflation rate for August 2021 was up 4.9% compared to August 2020, with core inflation up 3.1% for the same period.
- The growth in money supply — the total value of money available in the economy — in August 2021 was 2.31%, compared to 10.83% in August 2020.
- Equities net purchases/sales by foreigners for January-September 2021 reached -R88.8 billion, compared to -R92.1 billion for January-September 2020. Bonds net purchases/sales reached -R92.1 billion compared to -R71.2 billion for the same period.
- The average gold price per ounce in September 2021 was $1 779, compared to $1 923 in September 2020. The average platinum price per ounce was $971 compared to $906 for the same period.
- The average crude oil price (brent/barrel) in September 2021 was $74.41, compared to $41.02 in September 2020.
- South Africa recorded a merchandise trade surplus of R332.1 billion for January-August 2021, compared to a surplus of R135.0 billion for January-August 2020.
- Total vehicles sold were up 30.1% for January-September 2021, compared to January-September 2020. Vehicles exported were up 22.7% and tractors sold were up 29.5% for the same period.
- The volume of manufacturing production for January-August 2021 was up 11.6%, compared to January-August 2020. The volume of mining production was up 16.9% for the same period.