Retail data on customer basket sizes in the 18 to 35 age group show an average Rand value of just R212.68 per basket.

This is followed by customers over the age of 50, with an R218.49 average basket size.

The 35 to 49 age group continues to have the largest average basket size, at R221.30.

The Maholla Consumer Report can attest that compared to those of any other consumer age category in the market, youth basket sizes have the lowest average Rand worth in South Africa.

Maholla is a viral consumer reward app that rewards users for scanning any receipt from any store.

Consumers are rewarded for scanning their till slips into the app, with instant airtime, data, wireless internet, and other vouchers.

Data sadly reveals that the youth and the households who depend on them have lower basket sizes than the majority of the country's elderly.

 “The data collected by over half a million receipts on the Maholla app indicates that members of our youth are turning to wholesalers and bulk retailers to make ends meet.

“While traditional retailers have seen a marked contraction in basket sizes, Boxer and Game have seen an uptick, indicating a concerted effort by consumers to insulate themselves against inflation and rising food prices by purchasing their goods at wholesale prices,” said Adam Reilly, CEO at Maholla.

All stores have a common trend, which is a reduction in the number of products in the basket.

The number of products in the youth basket fell by 6% between May 2022 and May 2023.

Using data from more than 512 000 receipts for 2.38 million products sold over the last year, the average basket size of consumers in the youth category was compiled from more than 2000 different merchants.

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