Retail was the primary driver as card spending increased by 23 per cent, or €1.2 billion, last month when compared to February, new data from the Central Bank shows. Total card spending for the month of March, including ATM withdrawals, equated to €6.5 billion, the figures show. Total retail spending rose in March, up 26 per cent from February, and an increase of 22 per cent when compared to March. Social spending increased by 29 per cent compared to February, with spending on both restaurants and entertainment continuing to increase from their nine-month lows in January. In-store spending rose by €595 million, or 29 per cent month-on-month, in March.

Source: The Irish Times April 30, 2021 12:33 UTC