The move to digital and online shopping shows no sign of slowing down but when it comes to love, shoppers want to get physical. Today MasterCard has revealed that when it comes to expressing love, shoppers around the globe prefer the personal touch by picking out presents in store for their Valentine.

The “MasterCard Love Index” showcases global shopper behaviour in over 200 countries around the world and was created by analysing credit, debit and prepaid card transactions over a three-year period between 11-14 February in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The Index not only looked at the volume of spending and the amount spent but also analysed the types of spending associated with Valentine’s Day around the world.

The MasterCard Love Index reveals several interesting insights into Valentine’s Day spending habits in Egypt. Last year, 93% of people in Egypt made purchases in-person whereas only 7% of purchases were made online.

Restaurants accounted for the largest share of transactions at 49%; however, despite the high volume of transactions, restaurants accounted for only 13% of total Valentine’s spend. Cards were found to be more popular than flowers around Valentine’s Day, with 4% of people buying cards as compared to 1% buying flowers.

Overall consumer spending in the build-up to Valentine’s Day has increased in every region from 2013 to 2015 by an average of 22% and the data also revealed that many people are moving away from gifts and grand gestures in the pursuit of experience and the creation of memories.

“Where you live can have a big impact on how you shop or the experiences and memories you look to create. The MasterCard Love Index provides insights on global and regional purchasing trends to help retailers and other merchants make Valentine’s Day celebrations a little more personal and priceless,” commented Raghu Malhotra, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard.

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