Last month, AIB announced that May 2025 set a new record for the highest number of card transactions in a single month, with over 80 million transactions. According to AIB data, overall spending in May increased by 9% compared to the previous year and by 2% compared to the previous month. The cumulative spending from January to May 2025 also saw a 9% increase when compared to the same period in 2024, indicating a strong consumer confidence.

One of the key drivers of the surge in transactions was Metallica fans purchasing tickets for the band's upcoming two-day concert at the Aviva Stadium in June 2026. Ticket transactions on May 30, when the tickets went on sale, spiked by 76% compared to the daily average.

Spending on cinema and hotels also saw significant increases, with a 17% year-on-year increase in cinema spend and an 8% increase in hotel spend. AIB noted that May 31 was the best day of the year for hotel spending, especially in Dublin, likely due to events like Bloom and the VHI Women's Mini-Marathon.

Consumers in Ireland also showed a 10% month-on-month increase in spending at pubs, with Limerick leading the way with a 16% increase, followed by Louth and Longford at 15%. Factors such as favorable weather for beer gardens were cited as contributing to this increase.

Other notable increases included a 6% year-on-year increase in hardware spending, a 3% month-on-month increase in electric vehicle charging, and an 8% month-on-month increase in grocery spending. People in Cavan spent the most per transaction on clothes in May, with an average of €72.59 per transaction, representing an 8% increase from the previous month.

Adrian Moynihan, Head of Consumer at AIB, emphasized the importance of this data in showcasing strong consumer confidence, which is crucial for businesses to plan effectively for peak and off-peak periods throughout the year to meet customer needs.

The data analyzed was based on 80 million card transactions conducted by AIB customers both in-store and online during May 2025, and has been anonymized and aggregated for analysis.