I know for a fact every Flyertalker is 100% financially disciplined at a Warren Buffett-like level and would never ever ever be tempted to spend an extra cent through a credit card. But with all the complete moron sheeple idiot masses out there, you can take it to the bank that credit cards help induce extra spending... not only because it removes the immediate pain, but because it opens up so many more opportunities to spend... you don't even have to go to the mall, you can just sit there on your phone or your computer buying stuff.

The credit card issuers themselves make that a key part of their pitch... people using CCs spend more per transaction.

http://usa.visa.com/merchants/become...pting-visa.jsp