Average ticket size fell to ₹3,200 from ₹3,440, while transaction volumes rose 4.5%. What does this tell us? Consumers aren’t pulling back; they’re spreading spending thinner. With 12.41 crore cards active (up 10.5% YoY), and private banks grabbing 73% of the pie, the credit card race is heating up. HDFC Bank alone saw growth; SBI Cards tumbled 10.8%. And here’s the surprise; physical swipes grew faster (9% YoY) than online spending (3.9%). Even as digital dominates, cash machines aren’t dead yet. For job aspirants? Watch this space; rising card adoption often mirrors rising formal employment and disposable income. It’s not just about spending; it’s about economic confidence.