CHICAGO — The start of a new year did not spark a rise in credit card direct mail according to new research from Mintel Comperemedia, a leading market research company here (www.mintel.com). In the first month of 2008, the research firm reports that the estimated number of mailings sent by credit card companies dropped another 3% (from December 2007).

Credit card direct mail volume has fallen steadily since October 2007. According to Mintel, the number of credit card-related mailings sent to consumers topped 900 million during October, but totals have dropped 19% since then.

"The credit card industry is steadily pulling back and readjusting," comments Lisa Hronek, senior analyst at Mintel. "With the market unstable and people worried about financial risk, companies are rethinking how they use direct marketing to generate business."