First Data: Same-store transactions up 8% in December

Atlanta Same-store transactions for December 2009 showed a growth of 8.0% over 2008, holding up well despite widespread winter storms on the last holiday shopping weekend, according to a report by First Data Corp., a provider of e-commerce and payment processing.

First Data’s SpendTrend transaction analysis report for the full month of December 2009 compared with December 2008 tracked same-store consumer spending via credit, signature debit, PIN debit and EBT cards at U.S. merchant locations.

Transactions in the month of November 2009 were 8.9% higher than the previous year. Driven by increased usage at value retailers, PIN debit transactions continued to outperform with growth of 12.5% in December.

Value retailers once again led transaction growth at a rate of 14.1%, and most industries posted gains. Average tickets were slightly down on a year-over-year basis, but up versus November as a result of increases in value retailer and grocery average tickets.