Credit cards:Australians discover caution

Australians are now using their credit cards very carefully.

The Bureau of Statistic reports that Australians had just $3.8 billion outstanding on their credit cards – and other kinds of revolving credit – at the end of December.

Although that figure might seem high, it represented no growth at all, in this kind of credit, over 2009.

Business borrowers have been even more careful.

They cut their borrowing – on revolving credit facilities – from $11.6 billion in Dcember 2008 to just $7.3 billion in Dcemberr 2009.

The great Australian dream – of one day owning a home – is still very much alive  though.

The bureau also reports that Australians borrowed $15.5 billion, to buy homes in December 2009.

That was up from $14.1 billion, in December 2008.

These figures are all seasonally adjusted.

Borrowing, through fixed personal loans, though, was more subdued.

Australians took out fixed loans with a total value of $3.3 billion in December 2009.

That compares with a figure of $3.1 billion in December 2008.