Closed-loop gift card activations inNovember and December 2012 were up 15% compared with the 2011holiday season, according to preliminary aggregate data provided bypayments processor Vantiv.
Based on information from Mercator’sclosed-loop card benchmark combined with aggregated data fromVantiv, Mercator estimates that the total load on gift cards in theUnited States in the 2012 holiday season totaled $44.8 billion, up10% from the $40.8 billion loaded in November and December of2011.
Mercator continues to execute its closed-loop benchmark survey, sothese numbers will be further refined as additional results arereceived. (If you are a closed-loop card issuer and would like tohave your data included – no individual data is ever reported -please feel free to fill out Mercator’s survey here.)
This is the first in an occasional series of updates on theclosed-loop market that Mercator Advisory Group will produce incollaboration with Vantiv. This information will be published on PaymentsJournal.
For more information on Vantiv’s processing services andcapabilities, please visit here.
