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Johannesburg - South Africa is expected to adjust its trade figures going back at least to 2012, with an impact seen on recent gross domestic product (GDP) numbers, after errors were made in calculating the current data, two government sources said on Thursday.
It was unclear whether the impact on output data would be positive or negative, although one source who asked not to be named said the revisions to the trade numbers were "quite big".
Another source said an official announcement was expected on Friday.
The economy has grappled with chronically wide trade deficits as it slowly recovers from a recession in 2009 when demand from key markets like Europe withered, leading to a yawning current account gap seen averaging 6.4% of GDP through to 2015.
The trade shortfall narrowed slightly to R18.94bn in September from a R19.05bn deficit in August, pushing the cumulative deficit for 2013 to more than R126bn.
In his mini budget last month, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan cut 2013 GDP growth expectations to 2.1% from the 2.7% forecast earlier, but vowed to keep state spending in check.
It was unclear whether the impact on output data would be positive or negative, although one source who asked not to be named said the revisions to the trade numbers were "quite big".
Another source said an official announcement was expected on Friday.
The economy has grappled with chronically wide trade deficits as it slowly recovers from a recession in 2009 when demand from key markets like Europe withered, leading to a yawning current account gap seen averaging 6.4% of GDP through to 2015.
The trade shortfall narrowed slightly to R18.94bn in September from a R19.05bn deficit in August, pushing the cumulative deficit for 2013 to more than R126bn.
In his mini budget last month, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan cut 2013 GDP growth expectations to 2.1% from the 2.7% forecast earlier, but vowed to keep state spending in check.
