"The U.S. consumer credit card market enters 2026 in a position of strength but facing mounting headwinds, including high interest rates, affordability concerns, regulatory scrutiny, and renewed political focus on interchange. According to the Nilson Report, U.S.-issued general-purpose credit cards generated $6.136 trillion in purchase volume in 2024, representing a 5.3% year-over-year increase. Outstanding receivables reached $1.346 trillion at year-end 2024, up 7.9% year over year, while the 30 largest U.S. issuers held $1.208 trillion in receivables at midyear 2025, up 4.8%. Federal Reserve data tells a similar story."