I. The provincial GDP grew at 3.1 percent and the expected rate for 2011 is equal to the national growth rate. II. Mpumalanga's percentage share of the national population of 50.59 million was 7.2 percent, or 3.66 million in 2011. III. In total over the last year, Mpumalanga recorded 47 000 and 37 000 new jobs in 2011 quarter 4 and 2012 quarter 1 respectively, year -on- year basis. IV. In 2010, the three largest contributors to the provincial economy were manufacturing with (20.6 per cent), mining with 18.8 per cent) and community services with (16.0 per cent). V. In 2010, poverty rate was 45.6 per cent or 1.72 million of citizens that lived in households with an income less than the poverty income. The unemployment rate was 27.7 per cent in 2011 quarter 4 and 30.3 in 2012 first quarter. VI. The provincial income distribution became more unequal between 1996 and 2009, however, the Gini-coefficient improved somewhat to 0.64 in 2010. VII. A major share of households (46.9 percent) in the province earned less than R42 000 per year (R3 500 per month) in 2010. VIII. The contribution to the national economy was the joint fifth largest with a share of 6.4 percent in 2010. IX. In March 2012, inflation measurement in the province of 6.6 percent was higher than the national level of 6.0 percent and higher than the upper band of the inflation target range.