Majority of Canadians Use Their Favoured Credit Card for Most of Holiday Purchases

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - December 10, 2015) - A new TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) analysis found that the majority of Canadian consumers show loyalty to one credit card even as their spend increases during the holiday season.

TransUnion found that more than 22 million Canadian consumers have general purpose credit cards, and they average about 1.8 active cards per person. The analysis found that more than half of Canadians who own multiple cards usually put most of their spending on one card. The analysis also forecasts that more than half of these consumers will continue that behaviour in the next 12 months.

"Our findings show that most Canadian consumers are loyal to one credit card, which is understandable as some credit cards offer lower interest rates or simply a better rewards program," said Jason Wang, director of research and industry analysis for TransUnion. "This information can benefit both credit card issuers and consumers. Consumers may see more desirable credit card offers that speak to their usage preferences, while credit card issuers can use spend and balance data to tailor their offers to be most attractive to consumers, helping them to develop and maintain loyalty in a competitive marketplace."

† Consumers who have two or more credit cards

TransUnion's study also looked into whether holiday shopping levels stay consistent year after year. Holiday shopping is defined here as spending during the months of November and December that utilized a general purpose credit card. According to TransUnion's database, Canadians' median holiday spending increased significantly between 2013 and 2014. The top 20% of credit card users also increased their median spending in 2014, albeit at a slower pace.

"Our study found that the rank-ordering of spending remains unchanged. Simply put, if you were a high spender during the 2014 holiday season, chances are you will be a high spender again this holiday season," said Wang. "Our third quarter MarketTrends report showed that credit card balances are already at a two-year high. The current oil slump may have reduced the disposable income available to consumers in the oil patch, but at the same time, the two rate cuts this year have made debt more affordable. In any economic environment, our advice to consumers is always to remember to spend within their means."

To learn more about TransUnion's analysis and how to better identify high-value top-of-wallet consumers, please visit www.transunioninsights.ca/ConsumerSpendingStudy.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)
Information is a powerful thing. At TransUnion, we realize that. We are dedicated to finding innovative ways information can be used to help individuals make better and smarter decisions. We help uncover unique stories, trends and insights behind each data point, using historical information as well as alternative data sources. This allows a variety of markets and businesses to better manage risk and consumers to better manage their credit, personal information and identity. Today, TransUnion has a global presence in more than 30 countries and a leading presence in several international markets across North America, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Through the power of information, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies and families and safer communities worldwide.

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