Shoppers in Singapore spent more with their Mastercard credit cards during the first month of the Great Singapore Sale, the company said on Tuesday.

During the sale period of May 31 to June 30 this year, they spent US$797.4 million ($1 billion), an increase of 12.4 per cent over the same period last year.

Singapore-based MasterCard cardholders spent US$554.5 million, a 17.8 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Spending at eateries remained the top draw for Singapore-based MasterCard cardholders, who are Asia's top spenders in dining according to MasterCard's research on consumer purchasing priorities.