Credit card spending up 4% in October to €282 mln

Cyprus credit card transactions in October increased by 4%, reflecting stable consumer confidence while online payments to the state did not play a significant role in the rise.

According to the latest JCC data, the value of Cyprus credit card spending in the domestic market increased by 4% in October to EUR282 mln compared to the same month last year.

October’s increase was mainly driven by card payments for professional services and entertainment.

In the first 10 months of the year (January to October) EUR3.18 bln was spent using credit cards, an increase of 13% annually.

As 2019 draws to a close the annual increase of card use may not follow last year’s trend when an overall 33% hike was recorded in 2018.

The final outlook is expected to be determined by spending during the busy Christmas and New Year holiday season.

The sectors that witnessed the largest volumes were professional services, utility payments, restaurants, bars

and hotels and entertainment.

Meanwhile, there was a decline in plastic money spent on payments to travel agents and at Do-It-Yourself & Household stores.

Sales and cash withdrawals of Cypriots with credit cards abroad, including online purchases, was up 12% to EUR172.5 mln in October.

Foreign card transactions (sales) increased 11% in October to EUR132.5 mln – for the year to date it was also up 16% to EUR1.1 bln.

Cyprus cards used in Turkey and the occupied north of the island reached EUR2.25 mln in October and a combined EUR22.4 mln for the first 10 months.

The use of local cards in Turkey amounted to EUR543,234 in October and EUR5 mln in the first 10 months.

Transactions with Turkish cards in the Cyprus Republic stood at EUR1.58 mln for October and at EUR14.55 mln for the first ten months.