How SA’s economy fared in 2016 will be revealed when Statistics SA publishes the fourth-quarter GDP figures at 11:30am. Investec Bank economist Kamilla Kaplan said in her weekly note on Friday that she expected SA’s economy to have contracted by about 0.3% from the third quarter, but to have grown 0.6% from the same quarter in 2015. This would take SA’s economic growth for 2016 to about 0.5%. "In the fourth quarter of 2016, real value added in the mining and manufacturing sectors [probably] contracted, based on the guidance provided by the actual monthly production updates," Kaplan wrote. "Lingering drought effects are expected to have continued suppressing the performance of the agriculture sector. Partially countering the extent of decline in GDP in the fourth quarter is likely to be a positive contribution from the retail, wholesale and motor trade sales sector, as the monthly data releases suggested a moderate recovery from the contraction in the third quarter. "The financial se...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.