The hour people stopped buying: how the eclipse also blacked out Europe’s online stores

Wednesday evening’s solar eclipse had a striking effect on European online shopping behavior: according to payment data, consumers made nearly 38% fewer digital transactions at the peak of the eclipse. However, this was immediately followed by a sharp rebound.

“A synchronized pause”

Payment service provider Mollie analyzed payment flows in more than thirty European markets and observed a clear V-shaped pattern in the number of transactions during the eclipse. At its lowest point, transaction volume was nearly 38% lower than on a typical evening. Moreover, the decline was not limited to a single type of online store.

Chief Engineer Kareem Hewady observed the same pattern across a wide range of retail categories, suggesting that consumers temporarily paused their online activities across the board. “Online transactions typically follow a very predictable hourly pattern, but Wednesday evening was completely unique,” says Kareem Hewady. “Our data shows a synchronized pause during which people across Europe briefly stepped away from their screens.”

Once the eclipse was over, however, online shoppers quickly returned. In the 33 minutes following the peak, transaction volume rose by 64% from its low point. According to Hewady, the speed of the recovery was particularly striking: the moment the solar eclipse ended, there was a surge of delayed transactions.