The UK ranks higher than all other EU nations for cashless payments with €106.7 trillion combined revenue last year.
In 2018, after years of card payments slowly weighing in on the dominance of cash transactions, cashless has now overtaken as the most popular method of payment.
Last year saw a 15% drop in notes and coins used, and strengthened by the growing popularity of contactless cards, cashless payments now reign supreme.Merchant account and card payment fee comparison service Merchant Machine carried out a study to look at the extent of these economic changes. The research uncovers the impact cashlessness has had on specific industries, personal spending and how much different countries have adopted the payment method.Contactless forms of payment have created a new level of convenience for people around the world, and this has provided a real boost for certain industries. Below are some of the biggest winners:Cashless Clothing – Last year, the use of contactless payments to purchase clothing skyrocketed a huge 321% from the year before, topping all other key business types.
Parking Payments – The inconvenience of having to pay for parking has been improved somewhat by the ease of payment, with 132% more transactions last year than previous.
Public Transport Perks – Another business reaping the benefits of technology is public transport, where 91% of all payments are contactless.
Regional Winners
The advancement in contactless technology has continued to make consumer transactions faster than ever. The research looked at the top 10 parts of the UK that have adopted the tech more than others:
Money in the Midlands – Ranking first in the list, the city of Derby has seen a 45% increase in the usage of contactless payments in the past year.
Change in Chester – Narrowly missing out on top spot, Chester has had a 44% annual increase in the payment method.
Tapping on the Tyne – Contactless payments have also skyrocketed in the north-east, with 42% more transactions of this nature in Newcastle than the previous year.
Cashless Countries
Revenue from cashless payments has become hugely significant for a number of nations across Europe. Below are the EU countries with the highest revenue from card payments.
Power of the Pound – With an astounding €106.7 trillion revenue in 2017, the United Kingdom is far and away the leading nation for cashless payments across Europe.
Revenue Generating Germany – Ranking 2nd in the study of cashless revenue is Germany with €55.8 trillion last year alone.
Frivolous France – Another nation proving themselves to be tech-savvy and spend-happy is the French, which gathered a €27.2 trillion in cashless payments last year.
Ian Wright from Merchant Machine stated that: “The popularity and preference towards cashless payments appears evergrowing. While so many are aware of the decline of cash usage and increase in card transactions, but this study helps to break down where these changes are most felt.”
