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Debt Rebound Thu, May 13, 2004 AddThis Social Bookmark Button

By Michael McKinstry, CardTrak.com

After an anemic February, Americans picked up the pace in March as revolving credit grew at the same 4.1% annualized rate as one-year ago. Consumers added $2.6 billion to revolving credit during March compared to a mere $200 million in February. According to revised figures released last week by the Federal Reserve, the growth in February was only 0.4% instead of the previously reported 2.5%. At the end of March 2004, Americans owed $755.8 billion in revolving credit, compared to $720.7 billion for March 2003. Bank credit card debt (excluding store and gas credit cards) at the end of the fourth quarter was $672.3 billion, or roughly 90% of total revolving credit, according to CardData (www.carddata.com). It is expected that first quarter bank credit card debt will come in around $659 billion, reflecting a 2% seasonal decline. At the end of March, Americans were $2022.5 billion in debt, excluding home mortgages.

REVOLVING CREDIT HISTORICAL ($billions)
Mar 04Feb 04Jan04Dec03Nov03Oct03Sep03
GRWTH:4.1%0.413.02.24.95.26.8
$OWED:$755.8753.2753.0745.4743.8740.5737.3
Aug 03Jul03Jun03May03Apr03Mar03Feb03
GRWTH:3.4%1.4-2.47.73.44.15.9
$OWED:$729.1726.8725.9727.9722.8720.7718.6
Source: Federal Reserve; revised figures as of 5/07/04;
For complete historical data visit CardData (www.carddata.com)