Trade Conditions Survey
The SACCI (former SACOB) Trade Conditions Survey is conducted monthly to reflect
business's view on trade conditions in South Africa. The survey provides
the following main indicators:
- SA Trade Activity Index (SATAI)
Measures the view of business on current trade activity for the past month
- SA Trade Expectations Index (SATEI)
Measures business's expectations of trade conditions six months ahead
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Purpose and Utility
The SATAI and SATEI are the two most prominent indices of the survey. As
the survey is done amongst business, it will reflect a real time business
assessment of the trade environment.
The survey is conducted under the auspices of SACCI and covers the trade
activity of all
businesses. The results form the survey will be of benefit to business and
economists and will allow for analysis on a detailed and timely basis. The
results will punctually be available ten to eleven days after the survey
month-end.
The Trade Conditions Indices are diffusion indices that measures responses to a
series of questions aimed at establishing trading conditions. It is modelled on
the National Association of Purchasing Managers’ (NAPM) index in the United
States that has been published since 1931. The methodology was used in
Europe in the second half of the 1990s to establish similar indices – normally
called PMIs in Europe.
Apart from compiling composite trading indices like the SATAI & SATEI that reflect
comprehensive numbers on trade conditions, the overview of trading conditions
will also reflect on inventory holdings, new orders, backlog on orders, supplier
deliveries, input and selling price movements, export and import activity of
business, and job and employment prospects. The survey could be expanded should
the need arise.
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