There was a 9% increase in debit and credit card spending in November compared to the previous month as consumers began preparing for Christmas.
Compared to November of last year, the volume of spending was 5% higher, according to the latest data from the Central Bank.
The regulator said the rise in spend was driven in the main by the retail sector, although all headline sector registered an increase month-on-month and year-on-year.
In-store spending hit €4bn in the month, up 9% on a month earlier and 4% on the same month in 2021.
Point of sale spending in-store accounted for 52% of spending during the period, making it the primary method for card spending.
Online spending also rose by 13% to €3.7bn month on month or 9% year on year.
Retail spending rose by 16% to €3.7bn compared to October, with clothing rising by 37% or €124m.
Spending on electrical goods also saw a large monthly increase of 35%.
Social expenditure rose by 6% compared to a month earlier, with entertainment a big driver.
Total card spend outside Ireland fell by 7% compared to the previous month.
Meanwhile, separate data released by the Central Bank shows that household deposits declined by €1.7bn in November.
This was just the third monthly decline during last year, it said, but not uncommon in the run up to Christmas as people spend more.
"Despite the monthly decline, the 12-month flow of deposits remained strongly positive, with inflows exceeding withdrawals by €7.8 billion," the Central Bank said.
