Contactless spending out performs 2015 total

Spending on contactless cards in the first six months of the year has already outstripped contactless spending for the whole of 2015, according to new research from the UK Cards Association.

Contactless payments has already accounted for 9 billion pounds in sales in the first half of the year, out performing the 7.75 billion pounds in sales for the whole of 2015, and the UK Cards Association expects this trend to keep increasing.

There were 1.1 billion contactless transactions in the first half of the year to July this year, compared to 1.05 billion for the whole of 2015.

In June, contactless payments accounted for 18 percent of total purchases, over double the amount of June 2015’s figure of 7 percent.

The UK Cards Association's head of policy Richard Koch said: “Contactless cards are firmly entrenched as the preferred way to pay for millions of consumers, who expect to be able to use them for everyday purchases.

“We anticipate the use of contactless cards will continue to increase, particularly as charities and transport operators outside London recognise the benefits this technology can bring.”