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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Jonathan Barrett Senior business reporter

Australians rack up record credit card spending as growing numbers struggle to pay off debt

A person holding a credit card over a card reader
Credit card interest rates can be very high when compared with other loans, meaning users may enter into a cycle of debt. Photograph: courtneyk/Getty Images

Australians racked up a record $28bn in personal credit card transactions in December, according to new data, leaving many households unable to clear debts and paying extreme interest charges.

The Reserve Bank statistics, analysed by financial comparisons site Canstar, show that Australians are struggling more than ever before to clear purchases made on credit, amid persistently high living costs.

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