Simply over 9 in 10 (91.2 per cent ) card transactions made final yr the place paying by contactless would have been an possibility did use this know-how, in accordance 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 had been eligible to be contactless had been these made face-to-face or in-store, as much as the worth of the contactless card restrict, which is presently £100.

“Silver spenders” are serving to to drive up contactless use. Barclays mentioned the quickest development 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 had been utilizing contactless, up from 78.8 per cent  in 2021, in accordance with Barclays’ information.

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

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

The financial institution analysed client 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 had been among the many sectors which recorded notably large jumps in contactless spending in 2022, in contrast with 2021, Barclays discovered.

As UK consumers rushed to finish their Christmas purchases final yr, December 23 was the busiest day for contactless buying, with the full worth being 92.1 per cent  greater than the day by day common throughout 2022.

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

“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 turning into extra snug making high-value contactless funds from their cell, with these transactions accounting for an excellent higher share of complete contactless spend.”

The findings had been launched as Nationwide Constructing Society mentioned the worth of bank card funds and debt repayments was 13 per cent  greater 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, comparable to family payments, transport and grocery store buying, elevated by two per cent  month-on-month, in accordance 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 making ready for hotter climate and one space of non-essential spending the place there was a big uptick in January is holidays and journey, as folks look to plan forward and ebook a while away from dwelling throughout this yr.”