2025 merchant data reveals encouraging two-year growth, evolving patterns in trade, and digital-driven momentum
The 2025 Easter period showed continued progress in South Africa’s business activity, with total transaction value up by 11% and transaction volumes growing by 10% compared to the same period in 2023. These figures point to sustained momentum in trading activity over the medium-term.
Based on aggregated merchant transaction activity from Standard Bank’s merchant acquiring platform, as at 23 April 2025, the data provides a useful snapshot of performance trends across sectors and regions, including how businesses are adapting to changing consumer behaviour.
“Easter 2025 gives us a valuable perspective on how transaction patterns are evolving. It is encouraging to see continued growth, despite shifting market conditions,” says Norman Nyawo, Head of Merchant Solutions at Business and Commercial Banking South Africa, Standard Bank Group.
Gauteng led the country in overall turnover during the period, followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. These top-performing regions continue to reflect the scale and consistency of business activity in South Africa’s major economic hubs.
The sectors that generated the highest turnover during Easter 2025 were grocery stores, restaurants, and fuel. Grocery retail, in particular, showed resilience, suggesting that consumer spending continues to favour essential goods during long weekends and public holidays. Spending also peaked on the Thursday before Good Friday (18 April 2025) and remained elevated through Saturday, a pattern that highlights the importance of front-loading promotional activity ahead of holiday weekends.
Interestingly, March 2025 month-end volumes and values surpassed those of the Easter weekend, reinforcing the view that Easter is no longer a guaranteed trading peak, and that consumer activity is becoming more closely tied to calendar timing, salary cycles, and convenience-based purchasing.
While overall growth was uneven, some digital-first businesses continued to outperform broader trends, pointing to a shift in consumer preferences toward convenience, delivery, and on-demand access.
“To strategically navigate these evolving dynamics, businesses will need to be agile, optimising operations and responding quickly to shifts in demand. At Standard Bank, we continue to provide real-time insights and sector-specific intelligence to help our clients stay ahead. For instance, our SimplyBLU platform enables businesses to accept payments anywhere, anytime, and while gaining valuable transaction insights that support faster, smarter decisions, particularly in high-traffic periods like Easter,” adds Nyawo.
As a trusted partner in growth, Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking remains committed to supporting businesses across key sectors, helping them start, manage and grow through data-driven solutions, human-led relationships and a strong digital foundation, cementing our role as the leading banking partner for business across South Africa.
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