CONSUMER INSIGHTS Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report : H1 2025 Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report: H1 2025 SHARE Card spending and transaction volumes experience an expected downturn. Month-to-month (MTM): Consumer card spending remained volatile in June 2025, with most categories experiencing significant declines. Following a minor recovery in May, both card spending and transaction volumes decreased once more. Historically, June typically marks a downturn before a July rebound. Year-to-date (YTD): Overall card activity year-to-date indicates a general slowdown, suggesting more cautious consumer behaviour or tighter household budgets. This is evidenced by a shift towards smaller transaction sizes, a trend that was also highlighted at the Absa Consumer Conference in Cape Town. 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 CONSUMER INSIGHTS Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report: May 2025 Johannesburg, 29 July 2025 – The Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report for May 2025 indicates a slight uptick in card activity, following April’s sharp decline. According to Absa’s internal data, card spending increased by 2% month-on-month (MTM), while transaction volumes climbed by 4%. Despite the 2% growth in card spending and 4% increase in transaction volumes, this growth remains below the prevailing inflation rate of 2.8%. Read more CONSUMER INSIGHTS Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report: April 2025 The Merchant Spend Analytics Report for April 2025 noted a surprising decline in card transaction data for the month. In the wake of a robust performance in March, the month-to-month figures showed a 5% decline in card spending and a 7% decrease in transaction volume. Read more CONSUMER INSIGHTS Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report: Q1 2025 The first quarter for 2025 revealed resilient card spending with remarkable month-to-month recoveries. While growth moderated on a year-to-date basis, consumer sentiment remained strong and stable. Read more
