Johannesburg - Growth in credit demand from South Africa's private sector slowed to 8.91% year-on-year in June from 9.05% in May, central bank data showed on Monday.
Expansion in the broadly defined M3 measure of money supply also braked, to 9.18% from 9.75%.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected credit growth to slow even more, to 8.75% while money supply growth was seen virtually steady at 9.7%.
The data backs the case for the Reserve Bank to consider another interest rate cut - rates have been steady since the last reduction in 2012 - to boost consumer demand and spur economic growth.
The rand pulled back from R9.7950/$ just before the Reserve Bank data was released.
Expansion in the broadly defined M3 measure of money supply also braked, to 9.18% from 9.75%.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected credit growth to slow even more, to 8.75% while money supply growth was seen virtually steady at 9.7%.
The data backs the case for the Reserve Bank to consider another interest rate cut - rates have been steady since the last reduction in 2012 - to boost consumer demand and spur economic growth.
The rand pulled back from R9.7950/$ just before the Reserve Bank data was released.