Jane Croft reports on a study published by the Credit Card Research Group on credit card usage in the UK.

Plastic card use in the UK accounts for more than half of all spending in high street stores. Currently 60 companies issue about 2,000 different types of credit cards in the UK. Melanie Johnson, minister for competition, consumers and markets, said: "This research shows that the use of credit and debit cards is growing in the EU and that consumers in the UK are at the forefront in terms of their use of cards."

The Smart Card Alliance has released a new white paper on contactless payments.

The latest trend in retail payment applications is contactless payment. Contactless payment systems are used successfully in Asia, Europe and North America and offer a number of advantages to issuers, retailers, and consumers. Contactless payment allows issuers to penetrate the cash payment market, enjoy increased customer transaction volume, and improve customer retention and loyalty. Retailers realize benefits due to faster transaction times, increased revenue, improved operational efficiency, and lower operating costs. Consumers enjoy the convenience of hands-free payment, the ability to pay for multiple services using one device, and the security of not having to display a card for payment.