Despite the economic slow-down, consumers spent £354 billion on their credit and debit cards in the UK in 2007, according to a leading trade association.
Research by APACS said there was a ten per cent increase in spending on plastic compared with 2006 figures and a 243 per cent increase on figures for 1997 – when consumers spent £103 billion.
Purchasing on plastic was the most popular payment method for the seventh year running.
Sandra Quinn, director of communications at APACS, said: "Over the past three years we've seen a pattern emerge: debit cards have increasingly become consumers' first choice over other options, such as cash, cheques and credit cards."
Of the £354 billion spent on cards in 2007, nearly two-thirds of purchases were put on a debit card.
£194 billion worth of purchases were made by cheque and cash accounted for £265 billion.
Earlier this month Sainsbury's bank predicted that people would spend £7.89 in the summer sales.
