The number of debit card payments grows about five per cent every year in Canada, an increase seen in the latest round of Boxing Day shopping compared to last year, Interac Association said on Friday.
Canadians used their debit cards for 6.7 million transactions worth $350 million on Dec. 26, the debit network said.
An average daily volume can range anywhere between seven and 12 million swipes.
"The [Boxing Day] number is on target with our usual volume," said Interac spokesperson Tina Romano. "Interac payments grow about five per cent every year, so it meets our expectations."
The association recorded Dec. 21 as this year's busiest shopping day, with 15.6 million transactions worth more than $840 million processed on a single day.
On that day, Canadians used the cards the most at supermarkets and specialty clothing stores.
"Canadians are among the highest users of debit worldwide," said Romano. "Last year, Canadians made more than three billion Interac Direct Payment transactions worth $148 billion, and each year this number continues to rise."
The debit card is the preferred method of payment for one out of two Canadians and there are more than 35 million debit cards in circulation in Canada, according to the association.
