There was some good news for consumers as the year drew to an end.

Standard Bank Economist Goolam Balim said household spending, the largest economic driver of the economy, shrank by far less in the third quarter of this year compared to its contraction in the second quarter.

While 2009 had been a difficult year financially, Balim said indications were that the economy was on the mend.

“We can look forward to positive economic performance through 2010, even if it is more or less tepid,” he said.