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Australians in August initiated 123.2 million credit and charge card transactions, up 8.8% from 113.2 million a year earlier, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia. Credit and charge card spending grew by 6.2%, to AU$18.9 billion (US$17.4 billion or 11.6 billion euros) from AU$17.8 billion. Cash advances totaled AU$918 million, down 9.1% from AU$1.01 billion. Total credit card and charge card receivables stood at AU$44.9 billion, up by 2% from AU$44 billion. Credit card repayments totaled AU$18.9 billion, up 3.9% from AU$18.2 billion. Australians also initiated 171 million debit card transactions in August, up 14.1% from 149.8 million transactions a year ago. Debit card spending totaled AU$11.9 billion, up 13.3% from AU$10.5 billion. Australia had 14.4 million credit and charge cards in circulation and 30.7 million debit cards as of Aug. 31.
