consumer trendslatest news & developments
South African consumers are increasingly turning to AI to simplify financial decisions, with most trusting the technology to compare loans and find better rates.
LOAN

Would you let AI negotiate your next loan? South Africans increasingly do

A new survey reveals how consumers are turning to AI to navigate borrowing, compare options and make financial decisions.

  • Ashley Lechman
4 min read
Blind boxes are booming in South Africa, with sales at Toys R Us more than ten times higher than last year as consumers embrace collecting, surprise and social media driven discovery.
TOYS

Blind box boom: South Africans embrace mystery collectibles and unboxing culture

Blind-box sales are growing at Toys R Us South Africa as collectors chase rare finds, trade duplicates and share unboxing videos online.

  • Ashley Lechman
4 min read
Smart shopping in action: bypass eye-level marketing traps by looking up and down the shelves to find true value.
SHOPPING

The supermarket trap: Science-backed tricks shaping your grocery bill

Why are bread and milk always at the back of the store? Retailers force you past high-margin temptations just to grab the basics.

  • Alyssia Birjalal
6 min read
R99 for a bag of onions? As prices jump 21%, behavioural economists explain why hikes on everyday staples trigger far more outrage than luxury splurges.
INFLATION

Onion prices surge 21%: Inside the mental squeeze on SA budgets

From winter harvest delays to consumer psychology: why price spikes on kitchen staples hit household budgets far harder than discretionary luxuries.

  • Lutho Pasiya
3 min read