Will consumers take on personal credit card debt to make business purchases?

These days, more consumers are making business related purchases as part of their jobs, but fewer are doing so using their personal accounts, as many may be trying to avoid increased credit card debt.

Today, 21 percent of credit card users say they make business purchases as part of their job – up from 17 percent in October 2008 – and of that number, only 45 percent do so using personal credit cards, according to the latest Cardbeat study from the Auriemma Consulting Group. That's down from 62 percent a few years ago.

The majority of people who use their credit cards to make business purchases do so when traveling for work, the report said. In all, 60 percent of respondents put meals or hotel accommodations on those accounts. Lenders may do more to encourage this type of spending, such as by partnering with hotel chains, because the amount is more likely to be repaid thanks to employer reimbursement.

Consumers have generally been trying to avoid putting large amounts of money on their credit cards in recent months because many are wary of carrying large balances, which can lead to the necessity for debt relief.