The number of civil summonses issued for debt increased in November, Statistics SA said on Thursday.

An increase of 8.1 percent was recorded between November 2008 and November 2009, the Pretoria-based agency said.

The value of civil judgments recorded for debt also increased in November.

"A 24.1 percent increase was recorded between November 2008 and November 2009," the agency said.

During November 2009, 64 254 civil judgments for debt amounting to R649.2-million were recorded.

The largest contributors to the R649.2-million were money lent (R210.7-million or 32.5 percent), promissory notes and other acknowledgements of debt (R102.8-million or 15.8 percent), 'other debts' (R95.4-million or 14.7 percent) and goods sold on an open account (R70-million or 10.8 percent).