The bar chart compares the use of cheques and electronic payments such as direct debit card and credit card in New Zealand over ten years from 1993 to 2003.
At first glance, it is apparent that use of cheques dramatically decreased over ten years, whereas direct debit cards considerably increased.
The credit card rose slightly between 1993 and 2002, from approximately 5 percent to about 18 percent, but last year this figure marginally declined to roughly 15 percent. In the first 3 years, direct debit cards might increase, but the next year the number dropped to almost 17%. Between 1998 and 2003 this figure rose again to just under 40%. It is worth mentioning that cheque usage significantly declined throughout the period, starting at around 53 percent in 1993 and ending at almost 13 percent by 2003.