CONSUMER INSIGHTS | NOVEMBER 2024 Absa’s Merchant Spend Analytics: August 2024 Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Absa’s Merchant Spend Analytics: August 2024 SHARE Consume This, CGS Monthly: Volume 7 Could consumer spending be on an upward trend? We are excited to share our latest Merchant Spend Analytics report. The report offers insights on consumer spending habits, derived from a vast array of card transaction data. By examining patterns and trends within this data, we have gained valuable insights into the preferences, behaviours and spending power of consumers across various categories. Your browser does not support the video tag. Key highlights: Month-to-month: Consumer spending experienced a positive uptick in August 2024, this marks the first instance of consecutive monthly growth in 2024. Muted Performance in Food and Clothing: Despite the overall positive trend, spending in the food and clothing categories remains tepid, reflecting changing consumer behaviour. Online spending vs in-store spending: There has been a slight uptick in online shopping, while in-store spending experienced a modest growth. Debit card vs credit card: Credit and debit card transaction volumes decreased and stagnated across the core categories, since 2019. Focus on Automotive Category: The automotive category navigated a complex consumer spending landscape. Download latest Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report 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
