Healthy Transaction Growth Continued Through December

ATLANTA, JAN. 12, 2010 – First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, today released its First Data SpendTrend transaction analysis for the full month of December 2009 compared to December 2008. SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending via credit, signature debit, PIN debit and EBT cards at U.S. merchant locations.

Same-store transactions for December 2009 showed a growth of 8.0% over 2008, holding up well despite widespread winter storms on the last holiday shopping weekend. Transactions in the month of November 2009 were 8.9% higher than the previous year. Driven by increased usage at value retailers, PIN debit transactions continued to outperform with growth of 12.5% in December.

December Transactions CHANGE
Credit & Signature Debit +4.6%
PIN Debit +12.5%
EBT +37.0%
Total Transactions +8.0%
Note: All transactions are same store growth.

Value retailers once again led transaction growth at a rate of 14.1%, and most industries posted gains. Hotels experienced lower transaction growth in part due to scaled back holiday-related travel by consumers. Average tickets were slightly down on a year-over-year basis, but up versus November as a result of increases in value retailer and grocery average tickets.

To view the full report and see additional insights, click here.

Media Relations Contact:
Elizabeth Grice, First Data
303-967-8526
elizabeth.grice@firstdata.com

SpendTrend Contact:
Silvio Tavares, First Data
404-890-2248
silvio.tavares@firstdata.com