Despite improved sentiment, consumers still face financial strain.

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GUEST - Benay Sager - Executive head of DebtBusters.

Although consumer sentiment continues to improve in 2025, consumers are still under severe financial strain.

This is revealed in DebtBusters’ Q3 2025 Debt Index, a quarterly evaluation of debt counselling applications. Executive head of DebtBusters, Benay Sager, says that successive interest rate and petrol price reductions have helped consumers better deal with debt, however, finances are still seriously strained.

Sager explains that over the past nine years, income growth has not kept up with significant cost increases, and consumers are using short-term unsecured credit and personal loans to make up the shortfall.
18 Nov 2025 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

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