Across Europe, expenditure made on general-purpose plastic payment cards is growing at a dramatic rate. Such a transition has huge implications across all private consumer sectors and European forecourt retailing is no different. This Expert View serves to ensure forecourt retailers are aware of where cards fit into the total consumer payments market in Europe, now, and in the future.

• Data and analysis on the key trends in consumer payments in the French, German, Italian and UK markets for the period 1999-2003
• Product splits for spending made by cheque, direct debit, plastic card and a broad estimate for the value of cash payments
• Outline of the most and least penetrated plastic card markets and insight into the variations in the type of cards used
• Forecasts of the future usage of pay later cards, the strategies that are being adopted by card issuers and the key implications for petrol stations


Highlights



Between 1999 and 2003, growth in the value of cheque, cash and other credit transfer payments was below that of household expenditure as a whole. On the contrary, expenditure on plastic cards is growing dramatically and now accounts for over 40 per cent of consumer household spending across the four core European markets assessed.





General purpose plastic cards account for over a fifth of consumer spending in the UK and France, whilst in Italy and Germany they account for 10.1 per cent and 6.1 per cent of the value of consumer spending respectively. Furthermore, revolving credit cards in particular are likely to enjoy further growth across Europe.





Card issuers are exploring further opportunities for growth, primarily the market for low value transactions. This can have negative cost implications for forecourt retailers but it also opens opportunities for enhanced basket sizes in the shop and the introduction of payment technologies which are conducive to the forecourt environment.



Reasons to Purchase


• Access data from Datamonitor's Consumer Payment Model to understand how consumers make payments, and which products are dominant.
• Understand which payment tools currently dominate the space, and the size of the potential market opportunity for plastic cards.
• Understand the new tactics being explored by card issuers and the implications for forecourt retailers.