US consumer debt increased $13.6B in August but credit card use fell for 3rd straight month

WASHINGTON – Americans cut back on using their credit cards in August for a third straight month, a sign that consumers remain cautious about spending.

The Federal Reserve says that consumers increased their borrowing $13.6 billion in August to a record high of $3.04 trillion. That followed a gain of $10.4 billion in July.

But once again the gain was driven entirely by auto and student loans. A measure of that debt rose $14.5 billion to $2.19 trillion. Credit card debt dropped $883.4 million to roughly $850 billion.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

Martin Crutsinger

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles