France | Card payment exceeds for the first time that of species in shops

Even if the French appreciate the species, the credit card remains the most used means of payment. The Banque de France draws up this in a study published Tuesday: last year, the credit card represented 48 % of transactions against 43 % for species – 4 % for mobile payments and 5 % for other means (transfers, checks).

For the first time, the use of the card exceeds that of species in shops. Thus, the use of species was reduced by 25 points over the period from 2016 to 2024. An observation which contrasts with the situation of the euro zone, where the currency retains its most used means of payment at the points of sale, observes the Banque de France.

French people always attached to species

In parallel, the study shows a leap in mobile payments: with 4 % on all means of payments in 2024 against 1 % in 2019. Despite this, the French continue to assess the species. Even if they use them less and less. In total, 60 % of consumers questioned consider that it is important (or very important) to have the possibility of paying with money, underlines the study.

Unsurprisingly, differences are observed according to the buyer’s age. Thus, the propensity to settle a cash purchase of a person aged 40 years or more is “significantly stronger” than for a person from 18 to 39 years old. The amount and nature of the purchase also influence the type of payment used.