The latest Statistics SA report on income distribution (Earning and Spending in SA) underlines one benefit of the transition to democracy: government's earnest effort to track developments relating to poverty and inequality. Beyond that, however, the report makes depressing reading. Its key finding that income inequalities worsened between 1995 and 2000 underscores the need for more vigorous action to create jobs. Perhaps the most shocking finding is that, in real terms, the average African household has seen a 19% fall in income, while the average white household has enjoyed a 15% increase.