While the economy tiptoes, inflationary pressures race ahead. Although public sector infrastructure allocations disappointed, the harder stance on corruption in the construction sector along with a revamp of procurement policies, may support a more effective implementation of allocations. The uptick in tender values continue to provide hope for 2022. The big question is will the…
Turnover in the construction sector contracted by 12.2 percent y-y (nominal terms) in the 4th quarter of 2021 to R74.5bn. Overall turnover for 2021 increased by 5 percent y-y to R317bn compared to 2020. This is still lower by 10 percent when compared to pre-Covid levels in 2019. A full review by firm size (large,…
Construction employment (including the formal and informal markets) fell by 2.1 percent q-q in 2021Q4, with a 5.6 percent drop in the formal sector and a 4.0 percent increase in the informal construction sector. Source Stats SA Labour Force Survey. Latest statistics are available for download to subscribers.
Liquidations in the construction sector was unchanged in February 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, but a strong increase in January resulted in a 50 percent y-y increase in the first two months of 2022. This compares to an overall increase of 2 percent in total liquidations across all sectors during the same…
Capital expenditure by metropolitan areas on key departments important to the construction sector, fell by 10.6 percent y-y in real terms in the 2nd quarter of 2021/22 (as at December 2021). A full breakdown by Metropolitan area and department (including housing, water, energy and roads) is available and can be downloaded via user access codes.
CPI was unchanged at 5.7 percent in February 2022, as regulated administered prices slowed to 16.7 percent
Cement import volumes into South Africa fell 37 percent y-y in January 2022, with a 25 percent decrease reported in export volumes during the same period.
According to the FNB/BER, the building confidence index increased to a level of 40 in the 1st quarter of 2022, from an average of 33.7 in 2022, and 34 in the 4th quarter of 2021. While this may be the highest level since 2017, majority of contractors remain pessimistic.
Retail sales of hardware, paint and glass fell by 6 percent y-y in January 2022 to R7.4bn (current prices), compared to a 12 percent increase in overall retail trade sales (Source Statistics South Africa)
