According to data published by the JCC, the value of credit card transactions to merchants have shown an increase of 24% for the first six-months of 2001 compared to the previous year and a staggering 72% increase compared to 1999. The value of transactions to merchants for the first six months of 2001 equalled 18.89% for food and drink, 15.79% for clothing, 14.58% other shops, 9.77% for hotels, 7.95% for entertainment, 5.80% for travel followed by others including furniture, fuel, airline tickets, car rental and purchase of vehicles.

The value of transactions to merchants in 2001 up to May equalled CYP 138.6 million with foreign transactions for the same period reaching CYP 37.4 million, an increase of 13% compared to the same period last year. The average value of transactions abroad was CYP 87.00.