Credit card cash advances and EFTPOS use rise in Australia

Credit card transactions, climbed nearly 10 per cent in March, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
Australians spent $18.775 billion on their credit and charge cards in May, up from $17.130 billion the previous month and the second straight monthly increase.
The good news is that the increase in spending was matched by increased repayments, the RBA's says.
Credit-card repayments rose 17.5 per cent in March to $19.720 billion - the highest level since December.
Australians are paying out their credit cards
Total credit and charge-card balances outstanding fell by 1.0 per cent to $44.358 billion, from $44.799 billion in February.
Balances accruing interest rose slightly to $32.689 billion in March, from $32.651 billion the previous month.
By value, credit and charge card purchases increased 9.7 per cent to $17.741 billion in March, from $16.167 billion in February.
A disturbing trend is that cash advances on credit and charge cards increased by 7.4 per cent to $1.034 billion in March, from $963 million in February.
The number of cash advances on credit and charge cards rose by 6.8 per cent in the month.
The number of credit and charge accounts increased by 11,000 in March, while the number of purchases using credit cards rose by 13.3 per cent.
Total credit and charge card balances outstanding rose by 4.3 per cent over the past 12 months, compared with an average of 12.6 per cent over the preceding five years.
Total credit card repayments rose by 11.6 per cent over the past 12 months, compared with an average of 9.2 per cent over the preceding five years.
Total EFTPOS purchases rose to 161.998 million worth $11.213 billion in March, compared with 146.722 million worth $9.912 billion in the previous month.
The value of EFTPOS purchases rose by 18.7 per cent over the past 12 months, compared with an average of 12.3 per cent over the preceding five years.