Consumer Finance

Global consumers are struggling with the cost of living crisis, as inflation remains high while household income growth lags. Consumers are adopting recessionary habits, such as trading down and being more selective in their spending. Rather than…

Charge cards represent a diminishing segment within the payment industry, primarily due to their inability to provide financing options. Consumers increasingly favour credit cards over charge cards when making purchases, further contributing to the…

When presented with a choice between a credit card and a card offering credit card-like functionality but without revolving credit, most Brazilians opt for the former. This inclination is rooted in a fundamental factor hindering charge cards from…

Charge cards, which is predominantly represented by American Express, is expected to experience a remarkable resurgence in 2023. In this year charge cards is expected to rebound to around the pre-pandemic levels of usage and card issuance. This…

Charge cards are not significant in Peru, nor are they noted in Euromonitor International data.

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

While the Buy Now, Pay Later mechanism is still in its early stages in the country, new companies are emerging with innovative models, such as GOcuotas. Despite being relatively small, GOcuotas is experiencing remarkable growth, boasting an annual…

In June 2023, the percentage of households carrying outstanding debts in Brazil rose by a 0.2 percentage point, reaching a total of 78.5%, the highest level since November 2022. Among these households, 18.5% considered themselves heavily burdened…

Historically, when a consumer applied for a bank loan, the commitment was typically honoured until the debt was fully repaid because the process of making a change was costly and time-consuming. In 2020, Chile introduced the Financial Portability Law…

In the early months of 2023, a challenging macroeconomic climate, coupled with low consumer confidence, high interest rates to curb demand and soaring inflation, as well as political uncertainty, resulted in a marked deceleration in the issuance of…

Consumer credit is set to show continued consistent robust growth in gross lending in 2023, driven by improving employment and business performance, and wages that continue to recover in the wake of the pandemic. However, growth will encounter…

Consumer credit has continued to witness robust growth in 2023, albeit at a moderated pace compared to the preceding two years. This growth encompasses both outstanding balances and gross lending, having already rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in…

The credit market in Argentina remains highly restricted, primarily constrained to personal loans. The funds that banks receive from their clients are predominantly funnelled into a financial instrument called Leliq, which offers a lucrative…

Brazilians are well-acquainted with dividing payments into instalments, a practice prevalent in both traditional retail credit (known as "crediário") and credit card payments. The compounding effects of inflation, a challenging job market, and…

Chile's economy faces challenges as bank credit declined in 2022, the most negative annual variation in 30 years. The economic slowdown stems from a gradual adjustment to previous macroeconomic imbalances, with range projections of -0.5%-0.25% in…

The Colombian economy felt the effects of a slowdown in the first semester of 2023 due to a restrictive monetary policy, compounded by a significant increase in interest rates at the end of 2022. This caused credit card interest rates to rise above…

The consumer lending landscape in Mexico is expected to continue to display growth in both gross lending and the outstanding balance in 2023. 2023 is proving to be particularly favourable for the growth and expansion of fintech companies, which…

Consumer lending has sustained notable growth in 2023, albeit at a more tempered pace compared to the robust expansions witnessed in the preceding years. This growth encompasses both the outstanding balance and gross lending, surpassing pre-pandemic…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with rising income inequality being among the key ones. Nevertheless, addressing the income inequality through catering to the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Middle Class…

Banks in Argentina are grappling with a complex situation as the promotion of credit cards has become less lucrative. The regulated interest rates imposed by the Central Bank have limited the profitability of offering credit cards. Both the interest…

While in Brazil, the number of debit cards in circulation still surpasses that of credit cards, the latter is experiencing a more rapid growth trajectory. This surge in credit card usage is fuelled by the increasing digitisation of financial services…

Credit cards in Chile are undergoing a fascinating transformation, driven by the increasing digitalisation of consumer finance. A surge in digital transactions, including via credit and debit card operations, has led to a significant shift towards…

In 2023, the issuance of credit cards is expected to remain almost flat, with no significant increase. Growth rates for the number and value of transactions are also expected to decelerate compared to the previous year. The value of transactions,…

The number of credit cards in circulation is set to witness remarkable double-digit growth in 2023, accompanied by even stronger surges in transaction volumes and values when compared with the previous year. These impressive performances not only…

The landscape of credit cards in 2023 exhibits a dynamic where growth, while still apparent, has tapered in comparison to preceding years. This slowdown is a result of heightened prudence exercised by users, stemming from their concern over the…

The high inflation rate in Argentina has led to a significant increase in the use of debit cards. The government has refrained from printing higher denomination bills, and the highest available denomination is ARS2000, roughly equivalent to USD8 at…

Debit cards in Brazil have enjoyed continuous growth as an increasing number of Brazilians shift away from traditional paper-based payment methods such as cash and cheques. This transition is driven by the ongoing digitisation of financial services…

The latest “National Survey on Cash Usage and Preferences” from Chile’s Central Bank reveals intriguing shifts in payment preferences post-pandemic. In 2022, despite another decline in value, the number of personal cash transactions rebounded to…

The use of debit cards continues to grow and they remain the most important payment method behind cash. Further robust growth is expected in 2023 both in the number of cards in circulation and value of transactions. The performance of debit cards has…

In 2023, debit cards is set to experience robust double-digit growth in volume and value transactions. Moreover, in 2023 it is expected to achieve full recovery, surpassing the performance observed in 2019, in terms of the number of cards in…

The momentum of debit card usage continues to surge in 2023, mirroring the trend seen in recent years and maintaining its steadfast trajectory since the onset of the pandemic. The issuance of debit cards has remained notably robust, showcasing the…

Technological advances are creating unprecedented change across consumer-facing industries. The Digital Consumer Survey, fielded in March and April, offers insight into the pace and depth of this evolution, tracking consumer behaviour, attitudes,…

Consumer mobility is evolving as urbanisation, sustainability and growing technological savviness are driving demand for travel supported by dynamic payment solutions. Euromonitor International introduces the Digital Payments in Mobility Index to…

The credit card business has become less lucrative for banks, primarily serving as a means to entice customers to deposit their salaries into banking institutions. The prevalent monthly inflation in Argentina has soared to alarming levels. Banks face…

In 2023, Brazil's finance industry is undergoing rapid transformations driven by an expanding banked population, digitalisation, and advancements in open finance. Concurrently, consumers are increasingly turning to credit in the face of adverse…

2023 has witnessed another marginal rebound in personal cash usage in Chile, despite a further decline in the overall value of this payment type. Cash usage tends to be higher among individuals over 60 years of age, those from lower socio-economic…

The use of debit cards continues to grow strongly in Colombia, supported by increased online purchases and cautious consumer behaviour. While credit card issuance remains stagnant, pre-paid cards, particularly closed loop transportation cards, are…

Ongoing trends continued to be seen in 2023, with the use of cash declining and the digital transformation of financial cards and payments markets in the region a major theme in Latin America. Be it the Pix instant payments system in Brazil or the…

Financial cards and payments in Mexico in 2023 has been marked by growth, and adaptation to consumer needs. Post-pandemic economic recovery has been playing a pivotal role in boosting card usage and transaction volumes and values. This recovery,…

Financial cards and payments have indeed witnessed substantial growth in 2023. However, this growth has seen a notable slowdown due to consumers adopting a more cautious approach to spending. Factors contributing to this caution include the sluggish…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

The report examines inflation level and drivers globally and in the key countries. Global inflation is forecast to accelerate due to higher energy and commodity prices, disruptions in supply chains and weaker business confidence. Impact varies…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession in nearly a century. Businesses are operating in a world of anxieties and uncertainties, not knowing what will be the new normal or when output and consumer spending…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

Open loop pre-paid cards initially gained significant traction, targeting individuals without a financial history to access traditional credit cards, particularly those in lower socioeconomic levels. However, the momentum of this segment has…

Local consumers increasingly seek the ability to utilise pre-paid cards in digital domains, spanning online shopping, food delivery services, and ride-hailing platforms. Brazilians also aspire to utilise pre-paid cards in diverse contexts, including…

The Payment Means Law in Chile has been a driving force behind the remarkable growth of pre-paid card transactions in the country. These financial cards have gained significant traction towards the end of the review period, with both banks and…

In 2023, the number of pre-paid cards in circulation is expected to grow steadily. Closed loop pre-paid cards, particularly transportation cards, will remain the most important. This growth is driven by increased mobility as hybrid work schemes lose…