Cyber Monday’s $14+ Billion Economic Boost Powered by Electronic Payments

Not only do card payments make online shopping possible, they save businesses money when compared to cash purchases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cyber Monday is once again poised to be one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, delivering a multibillion-dollar economic lift to merchants and retailers nationwide — a surge made possible by modern electronic payments. Americans are expected to spend more than $14 billion online this year, according to data from Capital One Shopping Research, with credit and debit cards powering holiday commerce and helping businesses of all sizes meet customer demand.

“Electronic payments are the engine behind Cyber Monday,” said Richard Hunt, Executive Chairman of EPC. “Credit and debit cards don’t merely facilitate online purchases — they provide the speed, security, and reliability that makes online shopping possible. That means I can buy my Tony Chachere’s and Tabasco without booking a flight back home to Louisiana.”

Electronic payments give businesses essential advantages, including lower operating costs than cash, predictable and guaranteed payments, and the ability to serve customers around the clock. Robust security protections also safeguard consumer data and help prevent fraud — a critical benefit during the busiest shopping season of the year. Research consistently shows that these features deliver significant value for both consumers and merchants and underpin the modern e-commerce marketplace.

“Electronic payments do much more than streamline checkout,” Hunt added. “They enhance the customer experience, drive higher sales, and ensure businesses are paid quickly and securely. As billions move through the economy this Cyber Monday, the strength of our electronic payments system will be on full display.”

If consumers made more than $14 billion in comparable in-store purchases using cash alone, those transactions would have cost businesses over $780 million — more than $557 million more than the equivalent purchases made with credit and debit cards.