In 2008, the total number of non-cash payments, using all types of instruments, increased by 5% to 78 billion in the EU.
In 2008, the total number of non-cash payments, using all types of instruments, increased by 5% to 78 billion in the EU. Card payments accounted for almost 40% of all transactions in 2008, while credit transfers and direct debits accounted equally for most of the remainder.
The corresponding total value of transactions decreased by around 18% to €259 trillion. Credit transfers accounted for almost 90% of the total in 2008, while the remainder was generated primarily by direct debits (6%) and cheques (3%). The average value per transaction decreased by 20% to €3,315, partially due to exchange rate effects.
The total number of payment cards (i.e. cards with a debit, credit or delayed debit function) was just under 727 million in 2008. This represented around 1.5 payment cards per person in the EU, and is an increase of 5% compared with 2007.
The total value of euro-denominated currency in circulation increased in 2008, as compared to 2007, by 11% to 785 billion; of which over 97% was accounted for by banknotes. Around 35% of the value of all banknotes in circulation in 2008 were €500 denominations (compared with 32% in 2007), followed by the €50 denominations (32%) and €100 denominations (18%).
The number of automated teller machines (ATMs) available to the public increased by around 6% to 400,000 ATMs. This means that there are over 850 ATMs per million inhabitants in the EU.
The number of delivery instructions processed by central securities depositories reached 346 million, corresponding to a value of € 831 trillion. Compared with the data for 2007, this means a decrease of 8% of the number and a fall 9% of their value.
Today the European Central Bank (ECB) is publishing statistics for 2008 on payments and securities trading, clearing and settlement (hereafter “payment statistics”). Payment statistics comprise a comprehensive set of indicators on the use of and access to payment instruments and terminals by the public (i.e. individuals and firms), as well as the volumes and values of transactions processed through national and pan-European payment systems. Payments statistics are published for each European Union (EU) Member State, in addition to euro area aggregates and comparative statistics.
Selected payment trends in the EU over the nine years from 2000 to 2008, the period for which harmonised statistics are available, are presented below.