Consumer Credit Growth Unexpectedly Crashes
A big and unexpected tightening of credit in May.
A big and unexpected tightening of credit in May.
Credit growth still looks healthy. No sign of panic reliance on credit yet.
Consumer credit is closely watched by economists because expansions of consumer credit tend to lead to expansions of overall economic activity.
An indication that the Delta variant may have depressed consumer spending more than expected.
The contraction of credit card debt in April is a warning sign that the rebound may be less vigorous than expected.
A steep drop in credit card use in October signals concern about the economy.
The unusual combination of falling consumer debt use and rising spending is likely a reflection of Trump administration coronavirus relief programs.
The latest data suggests that the Trump economic expansion is still running strong.