Released on = April 16, 2007, 4:06 am

Press Release Author = Bharat Book Bureau

Industry = Marketing

Press Release Summary = This report on European plastic cards concentrates on the
situation in 24 of the EU member states, excluding the UK, in 2005. It examines
trends since 2000 and forecasts the likely take up of cards to 2010. It includes
information about the major players in the card market in Europe.

Press Release Body =
Plastic Cards in Europe Market Assessment 2005

This report on European plastic cards concentrates on the situation in 24 of the EU
member states, excluding the UK, in 2005. It examines trends since 2000 and
forecasts the likely take up of cards to 2010. It includes information about the
major players in the card market in Europe.

The overview of the market points out the disparities between member states, some of
which are world pioneers in the technology of plastic cards and some of which are
culturally opposed to the `Americanisation\' of payment methods.

There are four groups of member states, each of which has a distinctly different
cultural attitude towards debt and `easy buying\'. In most countries, consumers
prefer cash to any other payment method, and in all countries convenience outweighs
security or any other factor involved in money transmission. However, in some
countries people prefer to use bankers\' drafts to cheques or debit cards, and in all
countries the debit card is preferred to the credit card.

The report provides a summary of the political, economic, social and technological
(PEST) aspects of consumer attitudes towards money and saving. It also provides data
on the number of accepting terminals, the number of cards in issue by type, and the
value and volume of transactions. The findings of the 2003 Eurobarometer survey of
16,000 Europeans are quoted, revealing different attitudes between countries towards
credit and debit cards.

The report also demonstrates that there is great variation between the members of
the EU, and that a US or UK approach might prove disastrous without an understanding
of the local financial-services culture. Other countries manage things differently,
although the introduction of the European Monetary Union (EMU) has led to
historically unique convergence of economic policies, monetary policy and low
inflation throughout the EU.

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