Cyprus credit card payments up 3% y/y to Sept

Credit card payments in Cyprus rose 3% in the first nine months of 2010 compared to last year, clearing agency JCC said on Friday.
Transactions worth 1.39 bln euros were processed using credit cards from January to September. In the month of September alone, the value of transactions was up 2% year-on-year to 144 mln euros, JCC said.
The use of credit cards on the island by tourists was up 4% from January to September at 332.7 mln euros, but down 1.0% in September on the year.
Purchases by Cypriots abroad were up 13% for the nine-month period, at 863.5 mln, and in line with the summer vacation period, up 14% in September year on year.