Cyprus local credit card use up 22% in first half

Local plastic card use by Cypriots rose by 22% in January-June 2008 when compared with the same period of 2007, slightly slower than the 25% recorded in January-April
According to the JCC joint venture run by the commercial banks, total purchases using Cyprus-issued cards reached EUR 912.3 mln in the first six months of the year.
Expenditure by Cypriots abroad rose in the same period by 29% to EUR 450.4 mln. Meanwhile, expenditure by foreigners in Cyprus was more subdued, rising by only 2% year on year in January to June to EUR 212.9, compared with 4% in January-May.