BER Retail Survey

Inflation expectations
Manufacturing
Retail
Other services
Building and construction

BER Retail Survey

A quarterly report on the results, as well as implications, of the latest BER survey in the trade sectors (retail, wholesale and motor trade). Released in advance of official indicators of activity, it provides reliable and up-to-date information on current trends and a valuable perspective on the outlook for the sector.

Apart from business confidence, the survey data highlights current trends in business conditions, sales volumes and selling prices. In addition, the analysis of the retail trade sector provides detail on the durable, semi-durable and non-durable goods sectors and consumer and non-consumer goods for the wholesaler sector. Motor trade results are separated between new and used vehicles.

Regional perspectives for three main provinces (Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng) are also provided.

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Retail Survey, 2025Q3

Date Uploaded: September 22 2025 10:00


The latest BER Retail Survey revealed that business confidence among retailers retreated to 32% in 2025Q3, down from 42% in Q2. This 10-point drop brings confidence back below the long-term average (40%) for the first time in a year and puts the latest reading at a similar level to those at the start of 2024.