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The results of the Inflation Expectation Survey are provided in a quarterly report that is accompanied by an excel file containing the historic survey data.
The Absa Manufacturing Survey is a brisk quarterly report on the results and implications of the latest BER survey of manufacturing firms.
A brisk quarterly report on the results, as well as implications, of the latest BER survey in the trade sectors.
The BER Other Services Survey provides the latest trends and outlook for hotels, restaurants, transport, real estate and business services.
The FNB/BER Building Confidence Index remained relatively stable in 2026Q1, losing one point to register a level of 42. Sentiment edged lower despite a broad improvement in activity and overall profitability. The important exceptions, however, were residential builders and building material manufacturers.
Read MoreSentiment among civil contractors, as measured by the FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index rose to a joint 11-year high in 2025Q4. The improvement in the business mood was supported by significantly better readings for activity growth and overall profitability.
Read MoreAfter slipping one index point to 35 in 2025Q3, the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index increased to 43 in 2025Q4. This is, along with 2023Q4, the best reading in a decade and higher than the long-term average for the series of 40. A 21-point increase in sentiment among hardware retailers boosted the composite index. However, the uptick in activity among main contractors, led by residential builders, and activity among architects is also encouraging.
Read MoreThe FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index gained two points to register a level of 43 in 2025Q3. The business mood improved despite a marked weakness in activity growth. However, this is likely due to base effects and actual spending on civil construction is unlikely to be as downbeat.
Read MoreThe FNB/BER Building Confidence Index registered a level of 35 in 2025Q3, from 36 in 2025Q2. This marks the third consecutive decline in building sentiment. Moreover, the index has been moving within a narrow – albeit low – band since the middle of last year. This means that, while sentiment in the industry isn’t tanking, there is little lifting the business mood across the building value chain
Read MoreThe FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index declined for the third consecutive quarter to register a level of 41 in 2025Q2. This means that just under 60% of civil contractors are dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions.
Read MoreAfter gaining one point in 2025Q1, the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index shed five points to register a level of 36 in 2025Q2. Overall building activity was lower this quarter. However, this was disproportionately affected by much weaker residential building activity. While also lower, non-residential building activity remains somewhat more resilient.
Read MoreThe FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index shed three points to register a level of 45 in 1Q2025. Weaker overall profitability and business conditions largely account for the deterioration in sentiment. Activity, however, improved while the rating of the lack of new demand as a constraint was moderately lower.
Read MoreFNB/BER Building Confidence Index remained relatively stable in 2025Q1, gaining one point to record a level of 41. The results were mixed in terms of activity but, overall, reflected a sector which saw a slight worsening in current work. Near-term prospects for work, however, are encouraging from both contactors’ own expectation and also from the better activity reported by architects which reflects the building pipeline.
Read MoreAfter increasing to an eight-year high of 50 in 2024Q3, the FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index slipped to 48 in 2024Q4. Sentiment was lower amid renewed weakness in activity growth. However, an improvement in overall profitability partly counteracted this.
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