The economy
The shopper’s economy, in numbers.
Eight official numbers that decide how much South Africans can spend, and on what. Each has its own page with the history, the next release date and what it means for commerce.
- Retail sales grew 3.4% year on year in July, according to Stats SA (released 16 Sept 2026).
- Consumer inflation was 4.4% in August, up from 4.3%.
- The repo rate is 7.25% after the Reserve Bank raised it by 25 basis points on 23 Sept 2026, putting prime at 10.75%.
- Consumer confidence was -13 in the third quarter (up from -19).
- Unemployment was 33.6% in the second quarter, up from 32.7%.
- The economy was 0.9% bigger in the second quarter than a year earlier.
- 57,900 new vehicles were sold in August, according to naamsa.
- Lending to households and companies grew 7.5% year on year in August.
- Retail sales+3.4%Jul from +1.6%Next release: 21 Oct 2026
- Inflation (CPI)4.4%Aug from 4.3%Next release: 21 Oct 2026
- Interest rates (repo rate)7.25%23 Sept 2026 from 7.00%Next release: 19 Nov 2026
- Consumer confidence-13Q3 from -19
- Unemployment33.6%Q2 from 32.7%
- Economic growth (GDP)+0.9%Q2 from +1.9%
- New vehicle sales57,900Aug from 57,710Next release: 01 Oct 2026
- Credit growth+7.5%Aug from +7.4%Next release: 29 Oct 2026
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