As debt consolidation worries ease, credit card companies pump up the mail volumes

The results of a study recently released by Mintel Comperemedia show that the new wave of cautious optimism being seen across the U.S. economy has created an upswing in the amount of direct mail marketing being sent out by insurance and credit card firms.

In the first quarter of 2010, the volume of credit card-related marketing materials sent through the mail rose by 36 percent over the three preceding months, as 1.2 billion messages were sent to American consumers. And while insurance-related marketing increased by a less-impressive 8 percent, Mintel Comperemedia’s study showed that the total volume reached fully 2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2010.

Andrew Davidson, a senior vice president at the company, said that "while it is unlikely that we will get back to the mailing levels during the boom years, there is a good deal to be optimistic about. The insurance and credit card industries still have room for growth as they expand their marketing efforts and, as the recovery gains momentum, we can once again anticipate growth in the mortgage and loans sector."