South African economy out of recession – Statistician-General

South Africa emerged from a recession in the second quarter as agriculture helped the economy expand more than expected, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday.

Statistician-General Pali Lehohla said in Pretoria that the economy expanded 2.5 per cent in the three-months to the end of June after contracting by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter and by 0.3 per cent in the final quarter of 2016.

Mr. Lehohla said: “The growth rate is not what planners and those in decision making positions would have wanted.’’

“Although it’s not negative, it is not at the level (of growth) that was planned for,” he said.

According to Mr. Lehohla, helping the recovery is growth in agriculture with the sector expanding 33.6 per cent as it recovers from last year’s drought.

“The other key sectors of mining, manufacturing and trade also registered growth.’’

Gross domestic product rose 1.1 per cent on an unadjusted year-on-year basis in the second quarter, compared with 1.0 per cent expansion in the previous three months,” he said.

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South African economy out of recession – Statistician-General