Quote:
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that consumer credit fell at an annual rate of 1.5 percent, or by $3.2 billion, from April. Economists expected a deeper cut of $9.5 billion.
But the new figures still mark the latest move by consumers to curb borrowing, pay down debt and strengthen household budgets. Americans have been spending less and saving more to cope with the recession, which started in December 2007 and is the longest since World War II.
The savings rate jumped to 6.9 percent in May, the highest since December 1993. The amount of money saved — $768.8 billion — was the most on records that started in January 1959, the government recently reported.
Revised data released Wednesday showed consumers ratcheted back borrowing at a 7.8 percent pace in April, or by $16.5 billion. That was a bigger cut than first reported and the largest — in dollar terms — on records dating to 1943. The $15.6 billion drop in March was slightly less than previously reported, but the second largest tally ever.
Quote:
In May, consumers' appetite for revolving credit, primarily credit cards, declined at a rate of 3.7 percent, or by $2.9 billion. That followed a a 11.1 percent annualized drop in April, or $8.7 billion.
Demand for non-revolving credit used to finance cars, vacations, education and other things dipped at a 0.3 percent pace in May, or by $367 million. That came after consumers sliced such borrowing at a 5.9 percent pace in April, or $7.8 billion.
Americans' net worth shrunk by $1.3 trillion in the first three months of this year due to declining stock and home values. Many are having trouble paying their bills on time. Consumer loan delinquencies hit a record-high in the first quarter due mainly to rising unemployment, the American Bankers Association said Tuesday.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1RbLCbz_AJrpIhbI4fRRyuNF0EgD99AF8903
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that consumer credit fell at an annual rate of 1.5 percent, or by $3.2 billion, from April. Economists expected a deeper cut of $9.5 billion.
But the new figures still mark the latest move by consumers to curb borrowing, pay down debt and strengthen household budgets. Americans have been spending less and saving more to cope with the recession, which started in December 2007 and is the longest since World War II.
The savings rate jumped to 6.9 percent in May, the highest since December 1993. The amount of money saved — $768.8 billion — was the most on records that started in January 1959, the government recently reported.
Revised data released Wednesday showed consumers ratcheted back borrowing at a 7.8 percent pace in April, or by $16.5 billion. That was a bigger cut than first reported and the largest — in dollar terms — on records dating to 1943. The $15.6 billion drop in March was slightly less than previously reported, but the second largest tally ever.
Quote:
In May, consumers' appetite for revolving credit, primarily credit cards, declined at a rate of 3.7 percent, or by $2.9 billion. That followed a a 11.1 percent annualized drop in April, or $8.7 billion.
Demand for non-revolving credit used to finance cars, vacations, education and other things dipped at a 0.3 percent pace in May, or by $367 million. That came after consumers sliced such borrowing at a 5.9 percent pace in April, or $7.8 billion.
Americans' net worth shrunk by $1.3 trillion in the first three months of this year due to declining stock and home values. Many are having trouble paying their bills on time. Consumer loan delinquencies hit a record-high in the first quarter due mainly to rising unemployment, the American Bankers Association said Tuesday.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1RbLCbz_AJrpIhbI4fRRyuNF0EgD99AF8903
