Mexico's card payment ecosystem continues to evolve at a steady pace, with both credit and debit card transactions showing notable year-on-year growth as of April 2025. According to the latest edition of our ongoing market research, which tracks monthly and annual transaction volume and value across more than 25 categories since 2009, consumer behavior reflects a dynamic blend of traditional retail spending and digital adoption.
As of April 2025, total spending via credit cards reached 212.3 billion Mexican pesos, while debit cards accounted for 288.9 billion pesos in transaction value. In terms of transaction count, there were 258.5 million operations with credit cards and 645.9 million with debit cards, underscoring the widespread use of debit for everyday purchases.
Compared to the same month last year, credit card transactions posted an 18.0% increase in value and a 19.4% increase in volume, reflecting a healthy rebound in consumer confidence and purchasing power. Debit card transactions also saw double-digit growth, with the total value rising by 14.3% and the number of operations climbing by 17.1%. These gains come despite a seasonal monthly slowdown in April, with both credit and debit transactions declining slightly compared to March, in both value and volume.
A closer look at the five largest spending categories reveals that retail, department stores, aggregators, fuel, and restaurants continue to dominate the credit card landscape. Within this segment, aggregators—which include platforms facilitating digital and e-commerce payments—showed the most significant growth, increasing 25.4% in value year-over-year. Traditional retail sectors such as department stores and general retail followed with increases of 15.3% and 15.8%, respectively, while spending at restaurants grew by 15.0%. Gas stations registered a more moderate growth of 10.7%.
On the debit card side, similar patterns emerged. Aggregators led the way with a 22.5% annual growth in spending, and miscellaneous merchants—a diverse category that captures small businesses and local vendors—saw the sharpest rise at 27.6%. Department stores and retail followed with gains of 14.1% and 10.2%, respectively, while fuel purchases with debit cards rose by 5.6%.
Shifts in category weight within total card spending also offer insight into evolving consumer preferences. In the credit card segment, retail gained 0.38 percentage points in share, followed by hotels (+0.24), hardware and auto parts (+0.10), pharmacies (+0.08), and entertainment (+0.06). These changes point to a more diversified spending pattern among credit card users, who are increasingly relying on their cards for discretionary and travel-related expenses.
In the debit card segment, the reconfiguration is equally telling. Retail experienced the largest increase in relative share (+0.60 percentage points), followed by entertainment (+0.20), hardware and auto parts (+0.17), hotels (+0.15), and aggregators (+0.12). These trends suggest that debit cards are being used more frequently for non-essential and digital services, expanding beyond their traditional use for groceries and bill payments.
Overall, the Mexican card payment market remains robust, marked by strong annual growth and a gradual shift toward more digital and diversified consumption. The latest data reaffirms the role of aggregators and retail as the main engines of growth, while also highlighting the increasing relevance of travel, entertainment, and local commerce in shaping the country's evolving payment landscape.