"There is a notable improvement in people's confidence in the economy among the more wealthy, and a much smaller one among the less wealthy," Neil Higgs, spokesman for the research company TNS said.

He said the Economic Confidence Index (ECI) reading was taken before the Nkandlagate issue surfaced, before the Marikana shootings, and before the current wave of strikes.

The ECI rose from 131.1 points in April to 138 points in August, the best reading since September 2010 and the end of 2007.

The index measured how people felt about the economy and their financial circumstances, and their expectations for the next six months.

"Compared with the same time last year, there has been a good improvement in sentiment also because of perceptions that personal economic circumstances were better, that inflation was under control, and that the ease of getting jobs was improving," Higgs said.

People remained concerned about business conditions.