CARACAS, June 13 Reuters Transactions paid with foreign credit cards are helping circulate more foreign currency in Venezuela, where the government has locked in an exchange rate as part of efforts to control doubledigit inflation, four public sector and finance sources said.

The transactions have been growing steadily since the government of President Nicolas Maduro, who is running for reelection in July, loosened currency controls five years ago, allowing an expanded use of U.S. dollars alongside the local bolivar currency.

When Venezuelans with bank accounts abroad use foreign cards, their bank outside Venezuela sends the funds to its local intermediary bank in dollars.

The local bank can then sell the dollars, adding to the limited supply of foreign currency and helping the government to keep the exchange rate at 36.4 bolivars to the dollar and control inflation, which was 59.2 in the 12 months to May.

Maduro39;s government is seeking to raise its tax take so it will have funds to direct toward public workers, sources told Reuters, as it seeks to win their support at the polls.

This foreign currency helps support the exchange market, said a public sector source who asked not to be named.

About 11 of transactions at supermarkets, pharmacies and other businesses are made with international cards, up from 8last year, local analyst Ecoanalitica said in March.

Some 60 million per month from transactions on foreign credit and debit cards is sold by local banks,…