The Pew Research Center has published a report on "What Americans Pay For - and How" (PDF) - concluding that nearly three-in-ten adults (28%) say the most common way they take care of their regular monthly bills is by an online or electronic payment. A bare majority (54%) mostly uses checks, and a small minority (15%) mostly uses cash.

Shaheen Pasha writes for CNNMoney.com about ING Direct's Electric Orange high-yield online checking account - saying that some industry analysts are skeptical of the service concept.

APACS yesterday celebrated the first anniversary of the transition in the UK to chip and PIN technology on payment cards. APACS provided a number of statistical updates on the progress and impacts of this technology upgrade.   » Continue Reading

Tara Perkins and Dana Flavelle report for the Toronto Star on actions being taken by several Canadian banks to reissue credit cards following reports of security breaches of credit card data at several retailers.

Experian Consumer Direct has released its latest National Score Index study reporting that approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population has more than 10 credit cards, The study examines consumer credit card use on both a statewide and a national level.   » Continue Reading

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on credit card usage in Australia - where credit card debt outstanding has reached A$38.99 billion or an average of A$2,932 per account, up 7.5 percent over the last year. Growth in both credit card spending and receivables has slowed in Australia as consumers have reacted to higher interest rates.

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