Row rect Shape Decorative svg added to bottom CONSUMER INSIGHTS Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report: August 2025 Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report: August 2025 SHARE Card spending fluctuates amid retailer campaigns and consumer caution After a strong rebound in July, August’s Merchant Spend Analytics Report highlights a renewed dip in card spending, down 4.2% month-on-month, underscoring the volatility that has defined much of 2025. This ebb and flow reflects the impact of seasonal sales and targeted retailer campaigns, as well as the cautious sentiment shaping consumer behaviour. While in-store purchases remain dominant, online spending continues to expand at a double-digit pace, illustrating a structural shift in payment preferences. Alternative methods, such as Pay by Bank, Buy Now Pay Later and mobile wallets, are also gaining traction, signalling consumers’ growing focus on convenience and security. Download the full August report for deeper insights into South Africa’s evolving retail ecosystem Key insights Your browser does not support the video tag. In addition to unpacking category-level performance data, this month’s publication also explores the evolution of the gambling category and its impact on consumer behaviour. Download the latest Report Access latest Press Release https://cib.absa.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/file_example_MP3_700KB.mp3 Related Articles Podcasts Africa Trade: Balancing Gains and Pains, Practical Realities and Support Balancing gains and pains: the on-the-ground realities and practical support. How do African businesses turn a trade vision into a profitable reality? This final, action-oriented episode focuses on the on-the-ground realities of AfCFTA implementation, addressing critical challenges and detailing the practical support available to businesses, particularly SMMEs. Podcasts Africa Trade: More Than Just Tariffs, Unlocking Opportunities More than just tariffs: unlocking opportunities in services and investment. Ready to move beyond borders? This episode dives deep into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), exploring the immense opportunities in services and investment that extend far beyond simple import tariff reductions over the next decade. Podcasts Navigating the New Africa Trade Deal Navigating the new trade deal. Ready to unlock a market of 1.3 billion people? This foundational episode of "Africa Trade Unlocked" is your essential guide to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), often hailed as the world's largest free trade area since the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
