Online shopping around Valentine’s Day has increased by 321% since 2011 and, in the case of some Latin American countries, the increase has been up to four figures in the last decade, according to a global study conducted by Mastercard.
The so-called “sentimental expense”, which includes purchases of jewelry, flowers and restaurants, around February 14, in the case of online transactions has increased by 92% in the last ten years, according to the study “Mastercard Love Index” (” Mastercard Love Index ”).
The company’s annual survey of payment methods conducted in 19 countries shows that Internet transactions in Latin America have also grown significantly at this time, led by Colombia, which has grown by 4207% in the last decade; followed by Chile with 3,277% and Mexico with 628%.
In the case of sentimental expenditures, Argentina increased by 1961%, while in Chile it was 1124% and in Colombia 460%.
“These figures show a peak in the purchase of gifts and experiences compared to 10 years ago”, which includes traditional objects and outings such as flowers and restaurants, says a press release.
In Chile, there was a 25,333% increase in card transactions for the purchase of flowers, followed by Argentina (2,436%) and Colombia (776%), according to the study, which reveals that only last year, globally, more more than $ 200 million was spent on bouquets of flowers.
“In the case of restaurants, Chile leads with an increase of 8531%, followed by Argentina (1299%) and Colombia (910%),” the report reveals.
In terms of jewelry spending online, there has also been a year-over-year increase in the last decade, with a 20% increase worldwide since 2011, but in the Latin American region it was Chile that led transactions for these acquisitions with an increase of 5504%, followed by Argentina (408%) and Brazil (325%).