Kaya 959 Kaya Biz

SA retailers feeling increasingly confident as load-shedding slows.

Loading player...
GUEST - Craig Lemboe, deputy director at the Bureau for Economic Research

Retailers in South Africa are feeling increasingly confident, but economists are not expecting a festive time for retailers as 2023 comes to an end. According to the latest BER Retail survey, after climbing from a three-year low of 20 in Q2 2023 to 32 in Q3, the number of retailers that were satisfied with the prevailing business conditions increased further to 47 in the fourth quarter – the highest reading since 2022Q3.

The BER said that the improvement in confidence appears to be driven by improvements in profitability and general business conditions – with load shedding improving at the time of the survey – instead of sales growth.
14 Dec 2023 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA’s Car Market in Digital: Prices, Choices & Value

Cars.co.za’s Alan Quinn unpacks the digital trends shaping South Africa’s car market — from value migration and tax‑driven pricing distortions to the rise of Chinese and Indian brands. We explore what consumers really need to know when navigating one of the most complex buying environments in years.
23 Jun 4PM 12 min

Millennials & Gen Z Rewrite SA’s Vehicle Market

Absa’s Fulufhelo Mandane reveals new data showing a surge in new‑car purchases among young South Africans, despite affordability pressures. We explore shifting preferences, longer repayment terms, and the rise of value‑driven models reshaping the future of SA’s vehicle market.
23 Jun 4PM 17 min

SA Car Buyers Pull Back as Confidence Crashes

Wesbank Economist Thanda Sithole unpacks the sharp fall in consumer confidence, the impact of soaring fuel prices, and how these pressures are reshaping South Africa’s vehicle‑buying behaviour. From delayed purchases to stretched finance terms, we explore what lies ahead for the auto sector in 2026.
23 Jun 4PM 18 min

Building South Africa’s Auto Technician of the Future

Ford’s Kevin Heunis discusses the growing shortage of critical technical skills, the need for vocational pathways, and how programmes like Ford’s Autotechnician Apprentice Scholarship are preparing young people for a tech‑driven automotive future. A Youth Month conversation on skills, opportunity and industry readiness.
23 Jun 4PM 12 min

Funding the SMME Hustle: Traditional Meets Alternative Finance

Old Mutual’s Ndumiso Zulu and Lula’s Clinton Thomas unpack the real funding landscape for South African SMEs — from cash‑flow pressure to investment readiness, construction‑sector bottlenecks, and why only 6% of SMEs access formal finance. They explore how blended support, alternative lending models, and faster payment cycles can unlock the…
22 Jun 4PM 26 min
All episodes