Property Wheel
SA’s national office vacancy rate is at a five-year low according to SAPOA’s latest Office Vacancy Survey with vacancy rates having declined to 13.1% in Q3 2025 - the lowest since 2020 and continuing decline he steady improvement from the mid-2022 peak.
Retail trade sales (measured in real terms) increased by 5.6% y/y in July 2025 according to Stats SA with the largest positive contributors ‘textiles, clothing, footwear & leather goods’ at 10%, ‘general dealers’ at 3.3%, all ‘other retailers’ at 11.9% and retailers in ‘hardware, paint & glass’ at 13.2% while seasonally adjusted retail sales increased by 2.1% in July 2025 when compared to June 2025. Wholesale trade sales (when measured in real terms) decreased by 0.3% in July 2025 when compared to July 2024 with seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales having increased by 0.5% in July 2025 compared to June 2025.
The value of building plans passed (at current prices) in the private sector (as reported by municipalities) decreased by 3.6% (-R2037,1m) between January and July 2025 when compared to the same period in 2024 according to Stats SA. Decreases were reported for commercial buildings (-R2 318,m) and residential buildings (-R1 402,2m) with an increase in additions/alterations of R1 683,3m.