Central Bank data for January 2022 shows that total card spending, including ATM withdrawals, equated to €7 billion -- a decrease of 18%, or €1.5 billion, when compared with December 2021, in line with seasonal trends observed in previous years.

When compared with January 2021, when public-health restrictions limited in-person spending, this represents an increase of 36%, or €1.8 billion.

Daily statistics show that spending in February is 28%, or €1.1 billion, higher than in February 2021, as the public-health restrictions in place last year limited spending.

Point-of-sale (PoS) spending was 38% higher in January 2022 compared with January 2021, at €6 billion, while ATM withdrawals increased by 24%, to €940 million.

Subdued

ATM withdrawals remain subdued compared with pre-pandemic levels, and were 31% below February 2020 figures.

The volume of PoS card transactions was 42% higher in January 2022 compared with January 2021.  The average value of transactions decreased by 3% from January 2021 levels, to €45 per transaction in January 2022.