Payment processor Worldline reports surge in Black Friday transactions
Payment processor Worldline recorded 12.9 million transactions on 24 November, Black Friday, in Belgium. This is a 6.3 per cent increase compared to last year.
Around three-quarters of electronic payments in Belgium were made in stores. E-commerce continues to grow in popularity, but only 18 per cent of purchases were made online. The rest of the transactions took place at other places such as ATMs and petrol stations.
In 2022, Black Friday accounted for 12 million transactions. With this year's increase, the day is approaching the peak shopping days of 13.5 million. In the last two years, these peak days have been at the start of the summer sales or just before Christmas.
Contactless payments - which received a boost during the coronavirus pandemic - are increasingly popular. For 38 per cent of people in Belgium, contactless payments by card or smartphone are their preferred payment option, according to a survey by market researcher Ipsos and Vrije Universiteit Brussel this year. In total, 83 per cent of respondents chose digital payments over cash.
Online shopping is also becoming increasingly popular. Four out of five Belgians say they shop online using their debit card, banking app or credit card.
© BELGA PHOTO HERWIG VERGULT
Related news
