Simply over 9 in 10 (91.2 per cent ) card transactions made final 12 months the place paying by contactless would have been an possibility did use this expertise, in keeping with information from Barclays.

The financial institution mentioned that is the best proportion it has seen, with 85.6 per cent  of eligible card transactions being contactless in 2021.

Transactions that have been eligible to be contactless have been these made face-to-face or in-store, as much as the worth of the contactless card restrict, which is at present £100.

“Silver spenders” are serving to to drive up contactless use. Barclays mentioned the quickest progress in contactless use it has been seeing is among the many over-65 age group.

In 2022, 82.6 per cent  of cardholders aged over 65 have been utilizing contactless, up from 78.8 per cent  in 2021, in keeping with Barclays’ information.

Throughout all age teams, contactless customers made a mean of 220 “faucet and go” transactions final 12 months, up from round 180 in 2021.

On common, folks spent £15.13 final 12 months when making a contactless transaction.

The financial institution analysed shopper card spending information from Barclays debit card and Barclaycard bank card transactions to make the findings.

Throughout its issuing and buying companies, Barclays mentioned it sees almost half of the nation’s credit score and debit card transactions.

Inns, bars, pubs, golf equipment, the electronics sector and clothes retailers have been among the many sectors which recorded significantly huge jumps in contactless spending in 2022, in contrast with 2021, Barclays discovered.

As UK consumers rushed to finish their Christmas purchases final 12 months, December 23 was the busiest day for contactless buying, with the overall worth being 92.1 per cent  larger than the every day common throughout 2022.

Adam Lishman, head of shopper merchandise at Barclays, mentioned: “The recognition of contactless funds took one other leap forwards final 12 months.

“The upper £100 restrict, launched on the finish of 2021, actually made its mark as consumers flooded again to excessive streets following the easing of coronavirus restrictions, resulting in a surge in transactions. Brits are additionally changing into extra comfy making high-value contactless funds from their cell, with these transactions accounting for a fair better share of complete contactless spend.”

The findings have been launched as Nationwide Constructing Society mentioned the worth of bank card funds and debt repayments was 13 per cent  larger in January in contrast with 12 months in the past.

The worth of spending on airline journey by Nationwide’s members jumped by 68 per cent  in contrast with January 2022, whereas vacation spending elevated by 43 per cent  over the identical interval.

Total, the worth of non-essential spending fell by 11 per cent  month-on-month in January, whereas spending on necessities, akin to family payments, transport and grocery store buying, elevated by two per cent  month-on-month, in keeping with Nationwide.

Nationwide’s month-to-month spending report analysed almost 215 million debit card, bank card and direct debit transactions made by the society’s members in January 2023.

Mark Nalder, funds technique and efficiency director at Nationwide Constructing Society, mentioned: “Regardless of worries, the nation is getting ready for hotter climate and one space of non-essential spending the place there was a major uptick in January is holidays and journey, as folks look to plan forward and e-book a while away from house throughout this 12 months.”