According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, total credit provided to the private sector by financial intermediaries rose by 0.2 per cent in July.

Over the year to August, total credit rose just 2.7 per cent – distinctly less than the decade-average rate of 10.5 per cent.

RP Data’s Cameron Kusher said the data came as no surprise, with many borrowers preferring to pay off their mortgage than take on greater debt.

“People are adverse to debt at the moment,” he said.

“They are happy to stay in their current houses for longer and I think this is a trend we will see for some time – especially while there are ongoing problems overseas.”