Credit Card Use is On the Rise

Credit card usage is finally on the rise again in the United States. According to ISO & Agent, Consumers are more comfortable borrowing money and using revolving credit than they have in years, with the Federal Reserve Board noting a spike in annual consumer credit rates.

This year’s annual credit rate increased by 12.3% with consumers, a large difference from the 15% drop noted at the beginning of the Great Recession.  Although credit use has begun to improve, there is also a high rate of credit debt as well, with month to month debt being at its highest level since 2008.

Lower credit standards are mainly the cause of this increase, but a substantial influence has also been increased consumer confidence. People feel more trustworthy of the economy, optimistic that their funds will remain in order.

Even though the rate of credit usage has increased, there are still many variables affecting its slow, methodical pace; one of the most influential is the decrease in credit usage by the younger generations. Individuals 18-29 years of age are the highest percentage of those without any credit cards.

The American Banking Association claims the percentage of cardholders that fully paid off their monthly balance climbed to 29% in the fourth quarter, the highest level ever. Although credit card debt is still at an alarming rate, personal consumption financed by debt is still lower than its rate during the mid 2000’s.

With this increased capacity for borrowing, now’s a better time than ever for customers to use credit cards for spending. That being said, the market for credit card processing is at an all time high, and it’s important that you have the right people processing your transactions. CoCard is an industry leader in payment processing and merchant services, and is certain that we can provide an experience superior to any other.