Irish bank card spending saw annual increase during November lockdown

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish spending using debit and credit cards was slightly higher during a strict COVID-19 lockdown in November than in the same month the previous year as consumers moved online, Central Bank data showed on Wednesday.

Total card spending, including ATM withdrawals, increased by 0.3% compared with the November 2019 figure. E-commerce was 35% higher, while ATM transactions fell 45% compared with November 2019.

Spending using cards in the retail sector increased by 22% compared to the previous year, including a 50% increase in spending on electrical goods. Card spending in restaurants and dining was down 28%, the data showed.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries, editing by Louise Heavens)