Africa's biggest economy, that of South Africa, contracted by a shock six percent in the first quarter of this year, confiming that the country has slid into its first recession in the democratic era.

SA's leading indicator of economic growth, which predicts trends six to 12 months in advance, fell by a record 15,1% in the year to March — backing fears this year's recession may be worse than ...

The text of a summary of key findings by Statistics South Africa on gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2009: