We still have quite a ways to go, but the change seems to be accelerating. Interesting that Germany is so fond of cash:
Can confirm, since I'm German. If you ask people above 30 if they have credit cards, (unless they're traveling business man) they look at you quite weird. I moved out a year ago and since then I do my own grocery trips and I've never seen anyone but me pay with my maestro card, even though it's technically possible and free. Don't even think of using a credit card even! My family is traveling over to the US this summer and my family had to order four credits cards, because noone except me had one. Also, quite a bunch of my friends (most of them are around 25) really only get one, if they need it, for example of orders on the internet outside Germany, where the store requires them to - if there are no alternatives where you can order without a CC, of course. I think it's a cultural thing. Money-wise I think most Germans are raised very conservatively, living of last month's paycheck and don't spend money you dont have are normal things here which every child learns when growing up. Even paying stuff off in monthly rates is sometimes considered as putting yourself into debt and very rarely done. So paying with a credit card indirectly means that you want to spend money you don't have and that's a baaaaaaad thing. Just a couple of years ago, if you paid groceries with a card (not even credit card) you got a bunch of weird and judging looks. People assumed you can't properly live with your last month's paycheck or manage your finances, so you have to use your bank's money via the credit card to pay even for food! What a lowly human you are! Nowadays I only get the occassional sigh from people when I get my card out of my wallet to pay my groceries. Although younger people (<30) seem to accept it. But still very little of them actually do it themselves. Little story: Yesterday we had a business lunch and we decided to go outside the campus to a restaurant. I asked if it's paid by the company or if everyone is paying him/herself. I told them, that I ask because I don't have cash on me and I'd have to get it first. Hilarity ensues, because how the hell can you not have cash on you for a lunch meal?! Edit: Just saw that you even linked an article, and they seem to support my thesis after the history lesson in the second half.
I'm actually shocked at the value for Canada. for myself and most people I know, if we don't have to use cash we won't. I don't carry any in my wallet.