Barclaycard sees surge in ‘silver spenders’ using contactless

The number of UK consumers aged over 60 using contactless payments has risen by 116% in the last 12 months, research from Barclaycard reveals. Among the 18-24 age group, the number of contactless users has risen by 49%; among 26-45 year olds, the figure is up 65%; and among 46-60 year olds, the figure has climbed by 97%.

Barclaycard appAccording to Barclaycard’s research, overall contactless spending in the UK has more than doubled in the last 12 months, rising by 123%.

Discount stores have seen the biggest rise in contactless spending with a 431% surge in transactions, followed by gift card and novelty shops (261%), service stations (245%), candy and confectionery stores (227%), hotels, motels and resorts (223%), pubs and bars (202%), supermarkets (133%), department stores (133%), eating places and restaurants (125%) and nightclubs with 117%.

Across the UK, Manchester has seen the biggest increase in contactless usage, up 247% in the last 12 months, followed by Glasgow (243%), Cardiff (206%), Edinburgh (206%), Blackpool (205%), Liverpool (196%), Hull (194%), Birmingham (189%), Newcastle (188%), Oxford (186%), Northampton (183%), Bristol (172%) and Cambridge with 166%.

London continues to lead the way for contactless penetration, with 36% of eligible transactions (those up to £30) made contactlessly, up from three in 10 two years ago.

“We expect this upward trend in contactless spending to continue to go from strength to strength throughout the rest of 2016,” says Barclaycard product director Adam Herson.

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