These statistics are based on electronic card transactions during May 2009. Figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise stated. See the technical notes for industry descriptors.

The seasonally adjusted value of electronic card spending increased by 0.7 percent in May 2009, following a 0.8 percent increase in April. Both the retail and core retail series were also up in May 2009. The consumables industry was the main contributor to all these increases.

The value of transactions in core retail (which excludes the motor vehicle-related industries) was up 1.6 percent in May 2009. This follows increases of 0.8 percent and 0.7 percent in March and April, respectively. Led by consumables, all the core retail industry groups had increases in May.

Despite a decrease in automotive fuel retailing (and flatness in the motor vehicles industry group), the value of retail transactions was up 0.9 percent in May, the fourth consecutive monthly increase.

The trends for the three main series (total, retail, and core retail) are all showing growth since January 2009. Latest figures indicate that the growth is slightly stronger than previous estimates. However, initial trend estimates may be revised and should be used with caution until more data points are available.

Monthly figures for the value of transactions made with credit and debit cards indicate that May 2009 had the highest proportion of debit card usage (56.9 percent) since the series began.