Bureau of Market Research - Pty Ltd

11/09/2026

📊 South Africa’s economy remains resilient – but it is not yet flourishing.

That’s the picture emerging from the latest BMR/Unisa Economist of the Year forecasts.

South Africa’s GDP growth forecast remains at 1.2%, while inflation edges up to 4.3% and expected employment growth falls to 0.5%.

A stronger rand and improved bond and current account expectations offer some encouragement, but global uncertainty and domestic structural challenges continue to weigh on the outlook.

Read more about the August 2026 economic outlook. https://eoy.bmr.co.za/2026/09/11/august-2026-estimates/



Moneyweb Unisa - The University of South Africa

04/09/2026

📊 South Africa’s personal income economy is growing – but the gains remain highly concentrated.

New research from the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) shows that total personal income increased from R2.71 trillion in 2011 to R6.70 trillion in 2025.

But behind this growth is a different story: real cash flow income per adult declined by approximately 5%, while the top 10% of adults received 67.4% of personal cash flow income in 2025.

Education and location also matter significantly. Adults with tertiary education accounted for almost half of personal cash flow income, while Gauteng and the Western Cape together generated 59.8% of national personal cash flow income.

👉 Read more about what these trends mean for consumer markets, economic planning and South Africa’s 2026 income outlook. https://shorturl.at/vbru2

South Africa’s personal income economy has expanded substantially over the past 15 years, but the gains remain concentrated among a relatively small share of adults, according to the Bureau of Market Research’s latest Personal Income Estimates for South Africa, 2011–2026 (BMR Report 551). The ...

03/09/2026

🏆🌍 BMR recognised twice at the 2026 ESOMAR Awards!

We are delighted to share that the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) was involved in two award-winning projects recognised in the Regional Middle East & Africa categories at the 2026 ESOMAR Awards in Valencia, Spain.

🏅 Outstanding Contribution to Consumer Insights
Momentum Group & BMR – The advice advantage: reframing advice as a strategic growth capability

🏅 Research Impact Award
Momentum Group, BMR & Alltold – Understanding the Emerging Market and their unmet needs

This double recognition is a wonderful achievement for BMR and demonstrates the impact that strong research partnerships can have in advancing consumer understanding and translating insights into meaningful outcomes.

Congratulations to everyone involved, including our valued research partners at Momentum Group and Alltold! 👏

31/08/2026

🛒 What will shape the South African consumer between 2026 and 2028?

The latest BMR Consumer Market Outlook: 2026 to 2028 finds that consumers are facing a cautiously positive but constrained environment. While real retail trade sales growth is expected to increase from 2.1% in 2026 to 2.6% by 2028, households are likely to remain careful and selective about their spending.

💡 Value will matter more than ever. Consumers are increasingly comparing prices, looking for promotions and loyalty benefits, trading down where necessary, and weighing affordability against quality, convenience and trust.

At the same time, AI, digital retail and omnichannel experiences are changing how consumers search, shop and pay.

For businesses, success will increasingly depend on understanding customers, delivering genuine value and adapting to an evolving consumer market.

🔎 Discover the trends shaping South Africa's consumer market in the latest BMR outlook. https://bmr.co.za/2026/08/31/consumer-market-outlook-2026-to-2028/

The Bureau of Market Research (BMR) at the University of South Africa (Unisa) has released its Consumer Market Outlook: 2026 to 2028 (Report 550), which finds that the South African consumer market faces a cautiously positive but constrained outlook. According to Dr Requier Wait (Chief Researcher),....

21/08/2026

📊👨Men are dying younger – and South Africa is paying the price.

South African males had an estimated life expectancy at birth of 63.7 years in 2023, compared with 70.6 years for females – a difference of approximately 6.9 years.

But the story behind this gap is about more than life expectancy.

Men in their twenties and early thirties were dying at roughly twice the female rate, with premature deaths affecting households, children, businesses, communities and the public sector.

⚠️External causes – including accidents, homicide, su***de and other injuries – are particularly significant among younger men.

Our latest BMR blog post examines male mortality through an economic and social lens and considers why preventing premature deaths can help protect household security, retain skills and strengthen South Africa’s human capital.

Read more: https://bmr.co.za/2026/08/21/male-life-expectancy-south-africa/

An abridged life-table analysis undertaken for this article, combining the BMR's mid-2023 age-sex population estimates with recorded deaths from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), estimates life expectancy at birth in 2023 at approximately 63.7 years for males and 70.6 years for females. That is a....

20/08/2026

🇿🇦 South Africa’s population is changing – but not everywhere in the same way.

The BMR at Unisa’s mid-2026 population estimates place South Africa’s population at 65.1 million, an increase of 1.1% from mid-2025.

But behind that national figure is a much more complex picture. Population growth is slowing and becoming increasingly concentrated.

Provinces are growing at different speeds, some communities are gaining residents while others are declining, and South Africa’s population, while still relatively young, is ageing rapidly.

These trends have important implications for planning, policy, investment and development.

Discover the five structural shifts emerging from the latest population estimates: https://bmr.co.za/2026/08/20/population-projections-south-africa/

13/08/2026

📊 South Africa’s economy is showing resilience, but inflation and jobs remain key concerns.

The latest BMR/Unisa Economist of the Year forecasts show GDP growth holding at 1.2%, while inflation rises slightly to 4.2% and expected employment growth slows to 0.6%.

Lower oil price expectations and improved electricity availability provide some positive signs, but economic challenges remain.

Read more about the July 2026 economic outlook. https://eoy.bmr.co.za/2026/08/13/july-2026-estimates/

Unisa - The University of South Africa Moneyweb

13/08/2026

💳📱 From cash to clicks - the way South Africans pay is changing.

Tapping a card, scanning a QR code or paying with a phone has become part of everyday life for many consumers. But the shift towards digital payments is doing more than making transactions faster – it is also changing the way we shop, spend and manage our money.

Our latest blogpost looks at how technology is reshaping consumer payment methods in South Africa, from mobile banking and digital wallets to PayShap and the growth of e-commerce. It also considers what these changes mean for financial inclusion, spending behaviour, cybersecurity and the future of South Africa’s payment landscape.

👉 Read more: https://bmr.co.za/2026/08/13/cash-to-clicks-sa-payments/

06/08/2026

🛍️ Could your next grocery app help you save money before you even start shopping?

AI is changing the way South Africans buy groceries. Instead of simply searching for products, new AI shopping assistants can help you:

🥕 Find cheaper alternatives
💰 Compare prices
🛒 Stay within your grocery budget
⭐ Maximise loyalty rewards

As the cost of living continues to rise, AI could become a valuable tool for helping households make every rand count.

Read more in our latest blog: 👉 https://bmr.co.za/2026/08/06/ai-grocery-shopping-south-africa/

In South Africa’s evolving e-commerce landscape, the competitive frontier is undergoing a significant shift. For several years, industry growth was largely defined by logistical efficiency and the “last-mile” delivery race: who could deliver a basket in under sixty minutes? Today, that questio...

05/08/2026

📱Are we using technology, or is technology using us?

South Africans are more connected than ever. A new BMR study found that:

📲 96% have access to a smartphone.
💡 More than 93% say technology has improved their daily lives.
⏰ Nearly 3 out of 4 people spend more time online than they intended.

While digital technology creates incredible opportunities for learning, communication and financial inclusion, it also brings new challenges which include digital overwhelm, blurred work-life boundaries, sleep difficulties and online safety risks.

The new South African Digital Wellness Index gives our country a score of 69 out of 100, showing we're benefiting from technology while highlighting the importance of developing healthier digital habits.

Read the full story to discover how we can all build a healthier relationship with technology. https://bmr.co.za/2026/08/05/south-africans-digital-wellness/