JOHANNESBURG - As South Africans look ahead to 2026, optimism about household improvement coexists with economic fatigue and spending restraint.
NielsenIQ’s latest Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2026 reveals that many consumers remain deeply cautious, adapting their habits to manage ongoing financial pressure.
Loyalty and rewards programmes have emerged as a crucial lifeline, helping stretch limited budgets amid a persistently rising cost-of-living.
Andrew Leighton, Consumer Insights Leader for Sub-Saharan Africa at NIQ, has more on this.