Contactless spend in pubs and restaurants soars
Contactless spending in pubs and bars soared by 188% in the past year, with restaurant contactless spend up by 104% too, according to the latest data from Barclaycard.
While the category of pubs and bars saw the third biggest rise, just under commuter transport and pharmacies, spending at restaurants also made the top 10, in seventh place, and contactless spending at caterers also made the top 10 list, having risen 96%.
Overall, contactless spending had climbed by 164% across the UK, including in pubs, bars, pharmacies, supermarkets and on commuter transport - the last of which climbed the most out of all the categories, at 532%. Much of the rise was thanks to the maximum transaction value allowed rising from £20 to £30 in September 2015, with the average value of contactless spend per transaction now at £25.
Barclaycard processes nearly half of all credit and debit card transactions in the UK.
Tami Hargreaves, commercial director, digital consumer payments at Barclaycard, said: "The speed and ease of contactless payments means this is fast becoming the preferred way for consumers to pay for many everyday purchases. An increasing number of merchants are also choosing to accept contactless payments in response to this demand, leading to an explosion in contactless spending across the board.
"The £30 limit increase has also provided opportunities for consumers to make contactless payments for larger purchases - such as a full basket of groceries at the supermarket or a round of drinks in the pub - which goes some way to explain why volumes rocketed in 2015."
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Contactless spend in pubs, bars and restaurants jumps 92% >>