JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s retail sector delivered a strong performance in the third quarter of this year.
NIQ data shows consumers spent nearly R167.5-billion on fast-moving consumer goods.
That’s a 7.1 percent value growth, with unit sales up 8.7 percent .
The big winners were non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and tobacco, all showing double-digit volume gains.
Food remains the powerhouse, climbing by 8 percent.
But private label products are losing ground, with shoppers shifting back to independent brands.
READ: Retail trends | South Africans spend on essentials, cut back on tech
The picture looks very different in tech and durables.
The sector shrank by 3 percent, dragged down by weak smartphone sales.
Consumers are holding onto devices longer, choosing cheaper prepaid options, and focusing budgets on home essentials.
Major appliances like washing machines and freezers saw solid growth, helped by falling prices.