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Debit card payment figures begin to recover

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The number of debit card payments in April was 2.6% higher than in March and 7.6% higher than in April 2020. However, April 2020 was an exceptionally poor month for debit card payments, during the first lockdown. Compared with April 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of debit card payments was still 3.6% lower.

Without the COVID-19 measures currently in force, the number would have been an estimated 15% to 20% higher. The low point so far for debit card payments during the pandemic was last February, when the number of transactions was 30.3% lower than in February last year, just before the first lockdown began. This is shown by the national debit card payment figures that the Dutch Payments Association collects and publishes each month.

Trend in the number of Dutch debit card payments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Debit card payments at non-essential shops

The easing of COVID-19 measures for non-essential shops in April is clearly reflected in the debit card payment figures for clothing shops, book and magazine shops, and toy, hobby and sports shops. The number of debit card payments in these categories rose by 50%, 45% and 40% respectively compared with the previous month. However, compared with April 2019, before the pandemic, the figures remained substantially lower at -50%, -40% and -40% respectively.

Spending rises faster than transaction numbers

Spending through debit card payments in April increased across the board compared with the previous month (+5.7%), the previous year (+16.2%) and two years earlier (+7.4%). Notable increases in turnover compared with April 2019 were recorded by jewellers and opticians (+135%), plant and pet shops (+65%), and food and speciality shops (+60%). Travel restrictions may have contributed to this, as many people stayed at home during the spring holidays and treated themselves in the Netherlands.

Trend in turnover from Dutch debit card payments during the COVID-19 pandemic

The largest decreases in debit card payment turnover in April compared with 2019 were recorded in culture and entertainment (-75%), hospitality and leisure (-55%), and clothing shops (-30%).

Anticipating the easing of travel restrictions

In April, many people appeared to be anticipating an easing of travel restrictions. The number of debit card payments in the travel sector increased by 55% compared with March and by 330% compared with April last year.

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