Credit Card Databook 2026

The credit card market, which appeared to be a candidate for saturation in recent years, continues to grow amid a resilient economy. Purchase volume reached $1.28 trillion in 2025, and credit cards remain the most popular payment vehicles among consumers. Notes of caution can be found in weak rates of personal savings, which could indicate an over-reliance on cards, and in legislation that could impair the industry if enacted. 

This annual Javelin Strategy & Research report takes a broad view of the market and drills down into how cards are used in the U.S. market, zooming in on key demographics and other indicators to provide a useful assessment of where things stand.

Key questions discussed in this Credit report: 

• How have macroeconomic conditions shaped the credit market?
• What economic conditions can be expected in 2026?
• What legislative impacts should issuers prepare for? 

Companies Mentioned: 

Alaska Airlines, Amazon, American Airlines, American Express, Bank of America, Bank of America, Booking.com, Capital One, Chase, Citi, CPI Card Group, Delta Airlines, Discover, Discover, Equifax, Giesecke+Devrient, Hawaiian Airlines, Mastercard, Navy Federal Credit Union, New York Fed, Thales, U.S. Bank, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, United Airlines, Visa, World Bank