date:Aug 21, 2013
Retail bellwethers Shoprite and Massmart will release their financial results this week, when the extent of South Africas consumer spending slowdown is likely to be revealed.
High unemployment and slow income growth in South Africa have checked household expenditure, already crimped by soaring utility costs and rising debt.
Recent trading updates and earnings forecasts from the two companies and some of their peers have already pointed to a marked deceleration.
With disposable incomes under p