The KwaZulu-Natal economy still grew by 1.1%, but the decline in the barometer was driven by a sharp increase in economic stress levels in the province. The KwaZulu-Natal stress index, which reflects factors like inflation, interest rates and unemployment, increased by 3.4% year-on-year , 0.6% month-on-month and 2.3% quarter-on-quarter. Although inflation in KwaZulu-Natal was unchanged at 5.9%, which is higher than the national average, unemployment in the province is on the rise and stands at 23.2%.

Dr Clive Coetzee
General Manager:  Infrastructure Management and Economic Services
KZN Provincial Treasury
Economist (PhD UKZN)
033 897 4538
http://www.kzntreasury.gov.za/

Click on below link to view Barometer November 2012 article:

KZN Provincial Treasury Barometer November 2012 - 0.3 Mb