Absa and Nedbank’s interim results paint a bleak picture of the financial health of South African consumers. Throw in updates from two more bellwether stocks — Italtile and Cashbuild — and the stress they’re under becomes that much clearer.

“The consumer in South Africa [has] had to deal with very difficult circumstances,” Absa CEO Arrie Rautenbach told analysts on Monday. “Their liquidity balances show strain.” ..

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