increase in accrued benefits and withholdings is primarily due to the deferral of payroll tax payments under the CARES Act and the timing of Team Member incentive payments.
Investing activities:
The decrease in net cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, was the result of a decrease in capital expenditures, partially offset by an increase in investments in tax credit equity investments. The decrease in capital expenditures was primarily due to lower new store project development spending in the current year, as compared to the prior year, and the level of distribution expansion projects in the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in investments in tax credit equity investments were the result of entering into more tax credit equity investments in the current period, compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily for the purpose of receiving renewable energy tax credits.
Financing activities:
The decrease in net cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, was attributable to a decrease in repurchases of our common stock during the current period, as compared to the same period in the prior year, and higher proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt in the current period, as compared to the same period in the prior year.
Unsecured revolving credit facility:
On April 5, 2017, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for a five-year $1.2 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) arranged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., which is scheduled to mature in April 2022. The Credit Agreement includes a $200 million sub-limit for the issuance of letters of credit and a $75 million sub-limit for swing line borrowings. As described in the Credit Agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company may, from time to time, subject to certain conditions, increase the aggregate commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility by up to $600 million, provided that the aggregate amount of the commitments does not exceed $1.8 billion at any time.
As of September 30, 2020, we had outstanding letters of credit, primarily to support obligations related to workers’ compensation, general liability and other insurance policies, in the amount of $66.5 million, reducing the aggregate availability under the Credit Agreement by that amount. As of September 30, 2020, we did not have any outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.
Senior Notes:
On March 25, 2020, we issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured 4.200% Senior Notes due 2030 (“4.200% Senior Notes due 2030”) at a price to the public of 99.959% of their face value with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) as trustee. Interest on the 4.200% Senior Notes due 2030 is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, which began on October 1, 2020, and is computed on the basis of a 360-day year.
On September 9, 2020, the Company issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured 1.750% Senior Notes due 2031 (“1.750% Senior Notes due 2031”) at a price to the public of 99.544% of their face value with U.S. Bank as trustee. Interest on the 1.750% Senior Notes due 2031 is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2021, and is computed on the basis of a 360-day year.
As of September 30, 2020, we have issued a cumulative $4.7 billion aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior notes, which are due between 2021 and 2031, with UMB Bank, N.A. and U.S. Bank as trustees. Interest on the senior notes, ranging from 1.750% to 4.875%, is payable semi-annually and is computed on the basis of a 360-day year. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor under our senior notes.
On October 14, 2020, the Company redeemed its $500 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured 4.875% Senior Notes due 2021 at a redemption price of $500 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.
Debt covenants:
The indentures governing our senior notes contain covenants that limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things, create certain liens on assets to secure certain debt and enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions, and limit our ability to merge or consolidate with another company or transfer all or substantially all of our property, in each case as set forth in the indentures. These covenants are, however, subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. As of September 30, 2020, we were in compliance with the covenants applicable to our senior notes.
The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants, including limitations on indebtedness, a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 2.50:1.00 and a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.50:1.00. The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio includes a calculation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rent and non-cash share-based compensation expense to fixed