This week numerous headline-catching statistical series, which measure and report on key indicators, will be released.
Statistics SA yesterday reported the latest consumer price index data. The production price index for last month, which measures inflation at the factory gate, will be published today as well as labour market data in the Labour Force Survey of September 2006.
The labour survey will establish if there are any significant changes in the official rate of unemployment and track the relationship between increases in economic growth and job creation.
No less important was yesterday's release of the latest quarterly financial statistics for municipalities and the private sector.
The quarterly financial statistics survey of municipalities provides stakeholders and users with information to analyse government finances.
The consolidated balance sheet, which covers all assets, liabilities and reserves of local government institutions.
The income statement and appropriations for rates and general services. This includes ambulance, fire control, health (clinics and old age homes), roads and storm water drains as well as parks; recreation, such as libraries, cultural activities, museums, sport administration, community halls, swimming pools, sports grounds and nature reserves; sewerage and cleansing; traffic and other services (for example, city engineers, administration, personnel, legal services, city treasurer).
These services are not self-supporting. They are financed through assessment rates, other rates, the receipt of subsidies and other contributions.
The income statement and appropriations for trading services, which include abattoirs; electricity and gas; markets; passenger transport; water and other trading services.
Overall, the quarterly financial statistics suggest that municipal finances are stable.
This is demonstrated by the revenue generated from the sales of electricity and gas as well as water.
Purchases of water by municipalities increased by 9.8 percent between the quarters to September and December 2006, rising from R1.2 billion to R1.3 billion.
But purchases of electricity and gas decreased by 1.5 percent over the same period, from R3.7 billion down to R3.6 billion.
On the sales side, municipal sales of electricity and gas increased by 2.3 percent between the quarters to September and December 2006, from R6.3 billion to R6.5billion.
An increase of 18.2 percent (from R2.5 billion to R2.9 billion) was recorded in the sales of water over the same period.
Fixed assets increased by 2.2 percent during this period, from R96 billion to R98.6 billion.
The December 2006 quarterly financial statistics, also published yesterday, covered mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas and water supply; construction; trade; transport; storage and communication; real estate and other business services (excluding financial intermediation and insurance); and community, social and personal services (excluding government institutions).
The private sector uses the results of this survey to analyse business and industry performance.
According to the latest quarterly financial statistics, the overall increase in turnover for all industries reflected a 3.4 percent quarter-on-quarter increase, while the trade industry reflected the highest increase, 5.5 percent.
The year-on-year comparison reflects a rise of 17.2 percent.
Lower demand for electricity in the fourth quarter of 2006, compared with the third quarter, caused a decrease of 18.6 percent.
The impact of fluctuation in the exchange rate was reflected in the decrease of 2.7 percent in the mining and quarrying industry.
Capital expenditure on new buildings, machinery, furniture, vehicles and other equipment shows an increase of 26.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with the third quarter.
A year-on-year increase of 54.4 percent shows that businesses are spending money to expand and upgrade their premises.
Although the net profit before taxation fell by 4.9 percent for all industries in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter of 2006, the year-on-year comparison shows an increase of 30.7 percent.
Despite the demands of the ongoing collection and dissemination of official statistics, StatsSA is not ignoring its international and regional obligations.
This week I will be attending the 40th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Addis Ababa. This will be preceded by a preparatory meeting of technical experts convened by the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
The meeting of the committee of experts and the ministerial conference will focus on progress in implementing the millennium development goals.
They are expected to consider ways to accelerate Africa's development agenda and confront the continent's critical absence of data necessary to monitor and measure this progress.