The highest transaction rate occurred on December 24th at 11:03 AM, reaching 446 transactions per second. One in every five purchases was made using MB WAY
The latest data from SIBS Analytics reveals that e-commerce consumption during the 2025 Christmas season continued its growth trend, recording a 19% increase in the number of purchases and a 14% rise in the total value of purchases made between December 1st and 24th, compared to the same period in 2024. E-commerce accounted for 18% of total purchases in number and 21% in value. In terms of in-store consumption, a 6% increase in number and 5% increase in value was recorded compared to the previous year.
According to the published data, the highest peak of transactions occurred on December 24th, with 446 transactions per second at 11:03 AM. The top 3 days with the largest variations in the number of purchases compared to the daily average were December 23rd (+27% in value and +48% in number), December 22nd (+14% in number and +25% in value), and December 19th (+11% in number and +14% in value).
In addition, MB WAY once again stood out as one of the preferred payment methods for Portuguese consumers, with 1 in 5 purchases made through this payment method during the Christmas season. Transactions via MB WAY showed significant growth, with a 36% increase in the number of e-commerce transactions and a 31% rise in value, as well as a 21% increase in the number of in-store transactions and a 29% rise in value, compared to the same period in 2024. The peak of MB WAY transactions was reached on December 23rd at 1:03 PM, with 82 transactions per second.
Regarding tourist spending in Portugal, SIBS Analytics data highlights that during the Christmas season, the number of purchases increased by 13% in number and 10% in value compared to the same period the previous year. A similar growth trend was observed with Portuguese people abroad, showing a 21% increase in number and a 44% rise in value in purchases made by Portuguese citizens outside Portugal.
In terms of sectors with the highest growth in the number of purchases during the Christmas season, the following categories stood out: Toys and Games (+54%), Home Décor and Furniture (+46%), Perfume and Cosmetics (+46%), and Fashion and Accessories (+36%), compared to the monthly average of the rest of 2025.