Payments and transaction data
Aggregated payments data offers a near-real-time read on spending, and it is among the most privacy-sensitive data there is. This guide covers payments and transaction data and how to source it lawfully.
Why payments data matters
Spending is a direct signal of economic and consumer activity. Aggregated transaction data powers nowcasting, sector analysis, consumer insight and investment research, often faster than official statistics.
The payments data landscape
- Aggregated card panels: anonymised spend by sector and area.
- Open banking: consented account and transaction data.
- Merchant and sector aggregates.
- Economic spend indices.
Privacy is the core constraint
Transaction data derives from individuals, so it must be aggregated and anonymised, or consented (as in open banking), to be used lawfully. The GDPR and payments rules apply, and weak anonymisation is not acceptable.
Common use cases
Economic nowcasting, consumer and sector insight, investment research, and merchant benchmarking, almost always at aggregate level.
Sourcing considerations
Panel representativeness and methodology vary, and licensing is often restrictive. Aggregation thresholds and provenance are central.
In a managed model
A managed partner can source aggregated, anonymised payments data with verified methodology and provenance, keeping suppliers confidential.
- Aggregated payments data is a fast read on spending.
- It derives from individuals: aggregate, anonymise or use consented data.
- Open-banking data depends on valid consent.
- Check panel representativeness, methodology and licensing.
Sources & further reading
- EUR-Lex: PSD2 and payments framework.
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
- ECB and Eurostat: payments and spending statistics.
- Industry codes for transaction-data use.
We source aggregated, anonymised payments data with verified methodology. Get a no-obligation quote.