Consumers struggling with the increased cost of living are getting into credit card debt by paying their bills with plastic instead of simply reducing their outgoings.
Research from Mintel has shown that there was a 7% increase in the number of people applying for credit cards in the first four months of 2008 from the same figures last year.
The group believe that this is simply because people want alternative methods of finance to help them cope with rising energy bills and inflated household expenses.