U.S. consumers received nearly 8.0 billion direct mail credit card solicitations last year, a 30% increase over the prior year. The gain was about double the growth rate of 2005 even though response rates are hovering at 0.3%, according to CardWatch® (www.cardwatch.com). Response rates have declined from 2.8% fifteen years ago to 1.2% ten years ago to 0.6% five years ago. American Express and Capital One led all other issuers in 2006 followed by Chase and Citibank.
| U.S. CARD SOLICITATIONS |
|---|
| (billions) |
|---|
| 1998 | 3.44 |
|---|
| 1999 | 2.54 |
|---|
| 2000 | 3.54 |
|---|
| 2001 | 5.01 |
|---|
| 2002 | 4.89 |
|---|
| 2003 | 4.29 |
|---|
| 2004 | 5.23 |
|---|
| 2005 | 6.06 |
|---|
| 2006 | 7.90 |
|---|
| Source: CardWatch (www.cardwatch.com) |
|---|
