Consumers Spent Most Money On Groceries, Entertainment, Fuel And Food In Dec

Loading player...
Elize Kruger – Independent Analyst talks about The total spending by South African consumers in December reached R100-billion, while the volume of transactions reached 142-million, with 45-million transactions conducted at grocery stores and supermarkets, 12.8-million transactions at fuel service stations, eight-million at eateries and restaurants and 7.5-million at fast-food outlets.

However, in terms of value, consumers spent R26-billion at grocery stores and supermarkets, and spent R11.7-billion on betting, including lottery tickets, casino gambling and off-track betting. Consumers spent R9.2-billion at fuel service stations and R3.5-billion was spent at non-financial institutions, such as for foreign currency exchange and money orders, while consumers spent R3.1-billion at family clothing stores during December.

Payment clearing and reconciliation services company BankservAfrica’s Points-of-Sales transactional data showed how the spend varied among cost-conscious consumers, said BankservAfrica head of customer relations Solly Bellingan.


“Following the challenging year for the economy and households, our data show the total value of spending was only 7% higher than during the previous year, while the volumes had grown by 17%,” he noted.

Additionally, the amount of cash circulating in South Africa totalled R84-billion in December, according to BankservAfrica’s Integrated Cash Management Service data, which reflects the combined total of physical cash orders by commercial banks for their respective automatic teller machines and branch networks.

Despite the 6% decline in cash orders from the R89-billion in December, owing to the 19 working days in December 2022 compared to the 21 in December 2021, cash remained in high demand.

“One of the peak days was December 15, ahead of the Day of Reconciliation, with cash orders to the value of R8-billion placed. Further, cash orders worth R7.9-billion occurred on December 23, during the Christmas shopping rush,” said Bellingan.

BankservAfrica does not process interbank card transactions for all of the banks, which means that its data show only part of the fuller picture of the December transaction volumes and values. Further, the company does not monitor any transactions that take place between accounts at the same bank, he noted
31 Jan 2023 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

South Africa’s Solar Power Development on the Rise

Local independent power producer Mulilo today announced the financial close of what it calls one of the largest utility-scale solar developments in the country. The 380 MW Beaufort West Solar PV project will generate approximately 818 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. Joining us with the details is Stuart Macwilliam, Mulilo…
20 Apr 4PM 15 min

SA Inflation Risks Are Rising

With CPI easing to 3% in February but global pressures mounting, Nedbank economist Isaac Matshego breaks down what to expect from this week’s inflation print, the resilience of household spending, and the outlook for borrowing costs in the second half of 2026.
20 Apr 4PM 8 min

Inside the JSE’s 2026 SME Acceleration Strategy

The JSE launched its 2026 Enterprise Acceleration Programme, welcoming 12 high‑potential SMEs and building on the success of previous cohorts. Vuyo Lee discusses the programme’s evolution and its impact on scaling founder‑led businesses.
20 Apr 4PM 8 min

Careers Corner: Fuel Shock Forces Rethink of Workplace Models

Rising fuel and energy costs are pushing companies to revisit remote and hybrid work. CDH’s Rashaad Dadoo outlines the legal obligations, fairness considerations, and compliance risks employers must manage as flexible work models re-enter strategic planning.
20 Apr 4PM 15 min

Wealth Creation: Why SA Investors Need Alternatives

With the JSE representing less than 1% of global investable markets, South Africans face concentration risk at home. Anchor Capital’s Darryl Hannington explores the rise of private equity, private debt, hedge funds, and offshore assets—and how alternatives can strengthen portfolios in an inflation‑driven world.
20 Apr 4PM 16 min