Payment Companies Expand Retail Base

Data released by Shaparak payment and settlement network show that during the last Iranian month to May 21, it processed 2.14 billion retail transactions worth 2,759 trillion rials ($20.2 billion). 
Compared to a month earlier, the figures indicate hikes of 50.4% and 17.3% in terms of value and volume, respectively.  
The surge in transactions can be ascribed to the fact that data was compared to the period when most businesses were closed due to the annual two-week Nowrouz holidays.   
Data, however, indicated 30.1% rise in the number and 54.5% growth in the value of transactions on an annual basis.