MC & Visa Card Purchase Transactions Take Brunt

Mastercard and Visa card purchase transactions (PTX) for credit and debit cards in the U.S. grew by 7.0% year-on-year (YOY) in the first-quarter (1Q/19) compared to a 9.6% YOY gain in the fourth-quarter. The growth was primarily driven by Mastercard U.S. credit cards PTX on a YOY basis and by Visa U.S. credit cards on a CAGR basis.

U.S. payment card purchase transactions for Visa and Mastercard (debit+credit) hit 23,856 million in 1Q/19, compared to a revised 25,129 million in 4Q/18, and a revised 22,297 million for 1Q/18. In the first-quarter of 2015, Visa and Mastercard reported 17,333 million in credit and debit card U.S. PTX, according to figures collected by CardData.

Visa + Mastercard U.S. Payment Card PTX

U.S. card purchase transactions for Visa and Mastercard credit cards grew by 6.9% YOY for 1Q/19, compared to a YOY gain of 9.3% for 4Q/18. U.S. PTX for credit cards for 1Q/19 was 7,948 million, compared to a revised 8,808 million for the prior quarter and a revised 7,438 million in the year ago quarter. In the first-quarter of 2015, Visa and Mastercard reported 5,232 million in credit card U.S. PTX.

In the first-quarter U.S. purchase transactions for Visa and Mastercard debit cards were up 7.1% YOY, compared to a YOY gain of 9.7% for 4Q/18. U.S. PTX for credit cards was 15,908 million, compared to a revised 16,321 million for the prior quarter and a revised 14,859 million in 1Q/18. In the first-quarter of 2015, Visa and Mastercard reported 12,101 million in debit card U.S. PTX.

Visa and Mastercard credit and debit card U.S. PTX grew by 7.0% YOY for 1Q/19, compared to 9.7% for 1Q/18; 4.8% YOY for 1Q/17; and 11.9% YOY for 1Q/16. Visa and Mastercard credit card U.S. PTX grew by 6.9% YOY for 1Q/19, compared to 10.3% for 1Q/18; 14.1% YOY for 1Q/17; and 13.0% YOY for 1Q/16. Visa and Mastercard debit card U.S. PTX grew by 7.1% YOY for 1Q/19, compared to 9.3% for 1Q/18; 0.8% YOY for 1Q/17; and 11.4% YOY for 1Q/16, according to analysis by RAM Research.

Despite the sluggish first-quarter PTX numbers, the triple whammy of a government shutdown, nationwide bad weather, and shaky economic measurements with increasing uncertainty, Visa and Mastercard maintain an 8.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for payment cards, 11.02% CAGR for credit cards, and a 7.08% CAGR for debit cards, notes Robert McKinley, Senior Analyst for CardData, CardFlash and CardTrak.

VISA U.S. Payment Card PTX

Visa posted a 5.2% YOY gain in U.S. credit card purchase transactions for 1Q/19, compared to an 6.9% YOY gain in the prior quarter. Visa reported 5,698 million in 1Q/19 U.S. credit card PTX, compared to a revised 6,324 million in 4Q/18 and a revised 5,418 million in 1Q/18. For the first-quarter of 2015 Visa reported 3,623 million in U.S. credit card PTX. The four-year CAGR for Visa U.S. credit card PTX is 11.99%.

Visa posted an 7.1% YOY gain in U.S. debit card purchase transactions for 1Q/19, compared to 9.2% YOY gain for 4Q/18. Visa reported 11,264 million in 1Q/19 U.S. debit card PTX, compared to a revised 11,564 million in 4Q/18 and a revised 10,520 million in 1Q/18. For the first-quarter of 2015 Visa reported 8,853 million in U.S. debit card PTX. The four-year CAGR for Visa U.S. debit card PTX is 7.03%.

Mastercard U.S. Payment Card PTX

Mastercard posted a 11.4% YOY gain in U.S. credit card purchase transactions for 1Q/19, compared to 16.2% YOY gain for 4Q/18. Mastercard reported 2,250 million in 1Q/19 U.S. credit card PTX, compared to a revised 2,484 million in 4Q/18 and a revised 2,020 million in 1Q/18. For the first-quarter of 2015 Mastercard reported 1,609 million in U.S. credit card PTX. The four-year CAGR for Mastercard U.S. credit card PTX is 8.74%.

Mastercard posted a 7.0% YOY gain in U.S. debit card purchase transactions for 1Q/19, compared to a 10.9% YOY gain in the prior quarter. Mastercard reported 4,644 million in 1Q/19 U.S. debit card PTX, compared to a revised 4,757 million in 4Q/18 and a revised 4,339 million in 1Q/18. For the first-quarter of 2015 Mastercard reported 3,508 million in U.S. debit card PTX. The four-year CAGR for Mastercard U.S. debit card PTX is 7.27%.