US consumer borrowing rose in November, led by increases in auto and student loans

WASHINGTON – Americans increased their borrowing in November, led by continued gains in auto and student loans.

The Federal Reserve says consumers increased their borrowing by $12.3 billion in November to a seasonally adjusted $3.09 trillion. That is a record level and follows an October increase of $17.9 billion.

Almost all of the November increase came from an $11.9 billion rise in borrowing for auto loans and student loans.

Borrowing in the category that covers credit cards ticked up only $457.8 million after surging in October.

Credit card borrowing plunged after the Great Recession and consumers remain cautious about taking on high-interest debt. It has gradually increased to its highest level in more than three years, but it’s still 16 per cent below its peak of more than $1 trillion reached in 2008.