South Africa’s economy expanded faster than expected in the first quarter of 2026, extending its growth streak even as weak household spending and falling investment exposed persistent pressure on domestic demand

South Africa's GDP saw a 0.5% increase in the first quarter of 2026, driven by growth in finance, agriculture, and trade sectors, despite a decline in manufacturing.

Gross domestic product expanded by 0.5% in the first quarter, beating forecasts and marking a stronger-than-expected start to the year, a situation economists don’t expect to…