According to a new report by Visa Europe, a record increase in Irish online shopping fuelled a 6.6 per cent year-on-year jump in consumer spending last month.

The latest consumer spending index indicates that ecommerce spend was up 16 per cent on December 2014, the biggest ever increase since the survey’s history.

Face-to-face expenditure also increased in December, but at a lower rate than last year. He result are likely to lead to more calls for Irish business to improve and increase their online presence.

The survey, carried out in conjunction with financial information services provider Markit, is based on spending on all Visa debit, credit and prepaid cards, which are used to make an average of 110 million transactions every quarter, and which Visa Europe say account for €1 in €3 of all Irish consumer spending.

Spending on household goods rose 10.8pc year-on-year in December, while spending on health and education rose 10.7pc.

For more on this article, please visit: Irish Independent

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