Card activity in the U.S. for gross transactions (GTX) for Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards grew by 8.6% year-on-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter (4Q/18), compared to an 8.3% YOY gain in 3Q/18 and a 7.5% YOY increase for 4Q/17, according to figures gathered by CardData.
Credit & Debit Cards GTX Growth
U.S. GTX for Visa + Mastercard credit cards jumped 8.2% YOY while U.S. GTX for Visa + Mastercard debit cards increased 8.8% YOY in 4Q/18.
Visa’s U.S. GTX for credit cards rose 6.8% YOY in the fourth quarter as U.S. GTX for debit cards increased 8.2% YOY in 4Q/18.
Mastercard’s U.S. GTX for credit cards soared 11.8% YOY as U.S. GTX for debit cards increased 10.2% YOY in 4Q/18.
Credit & Debit Cards GTX Statistics
In the fourth quarter gross U.S payment card (credit + debit) transactions for Visa and Mastercard came in at 26.4 billion, compared to 25.7 billion for the prior quarter and 24.3 billion in the year ago quarter.
In 4Q/18 gross U.S. credit card transactions for Visa and Mastercard came in at 8.8 billion, compared to 8.5 billion for the prior quarter and 8.2 billion in the year ago quarter.
In 4Q/18 gross U.S. debit card transactions for Visa and Mastercard came in at 17.6 billion, compared to 17.2 billion for the prior quarter and 16.1 billion in the year ago quarter.
Visa U.S. GTX Stats
Visa’s fourth quarter gross U.S. credit card transactions came in at 6346 million, compared to 6163 million for the prior quarter and 5940 million in the 4Q/17.
Visa’s 4Q/18 gross U.S. debit card transactions came in at 12477 million, compared to 12306 million for the prior quarter and 11534 million in the year ago quarter.
Mastercard U.S. GTX Stats
Mastercard’s fourth quarter gross U.S. credit card transactions came in at 2493 million, compared to 2330 million for the prior quarter and 2229 million in the year ago quarter.
Mastercard’s fourth quarter gross U.S. debit card transactions came in at 5079 million, compared to 4937 million for the prior quarter and 4607 million in the year ago quarter.
U.S. GTX Outlook
While, U.S. credit card debt has been slowing, credit and debit card transcations should remain strong in the face of rising consumer confidence.
Of note is credit card cash transactions (CTX) for Visa and Mastercard U.S. credit and debit cards in the U.S. declined by 2.3% year-on-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter (4Q/18). U.S. 4Q/18 credit card cash transactions were flat YOY, while U.S. debit card CTX decreased 2.3% YOY, according to analysis by RAM Research.
U.S. V+M Payment Card GTX
4Q/16: 22614 million
4Q/17: 24310 million
4Q/18: 26395 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Payment Card GTX for Visa + Mastercard
U.S. V+M Credit Card GTX
4Q/16: 7440 million
4Q/17: 8169 million
4Q/18: 8839 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Credit Card GTX for Visa + Mastercard
U.S. V+M Debit Card GTX
4Q/16: 15174 million
4Q/17: 16141 million
4Q/18: 17556 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Debit Card GTX for Visa + Mastercard
U.S. Visa Credit Card GTX
4Q/16: 5366 million
4Q/17: 5940 million
4Q/18: 6346 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Credit Card GTX for Visa
U.S. Mastercard Credit Card GTX
4Q/16: 2074 million
4Q/17: 2229 million
4Q/18: 2493 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Credit Card GTX for Mastercard
U.S. Visa Debit Card GTX
4Q/16: 10919 million
4Q/17: 11534 million
4Q/18: 12477 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Debit Card GTX for Visa
U.S. Mastercard Debit Card GTX
4Q/16: 4255 million
4Q/17: 4607 million
4Q/18: 5079 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly U.S. Debit Card GTX for Mastercard
Source: Visa; Mastercard; RAM Research; CardData
