Consumer Pulse Wave 6

Eighty-nine percent of consumers remain concerned over their ability to pay bills and loans, but slightly lower levels of financial hardship experienced by consumers augmented by government relief and financial arrangement programs seems to be shifting consumer mindsets toward recovery and moving forward with life.

The proportion of consumers saying they have been negatively affected by COVID-19 has dropped to its lowest level (77%) since the first round of the survey back in April and is significantly less than the highest level experienced in June (84%).

Despite this, job loss continues to increase - compared to survey wave one, the proportion of financially impacted consumers reporting that they have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic has more than doubled, reaching 21% in August compared to 10% in April.

COVID-19 related digital fraud schemes remain a threat – 39%of South African consumers reported being aware of some attempt to defraud them.