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Highlights
Consumers piled on the credit during November, up $12.4 billion vs. a $1.3 billion decline in October. Revolving credit, reflecting the month's strong retail sales, jumped $8.7 billion, while nonrevolving credit, reflecting solid vehicle sales, rose $3.7 billion. Having less home equity to tap and facing negative savings rates, consumers will more and more have to turn to their credit cards or to direct loans to finance purchases. Friday's retail trade data, and whether the holiday shopping season turned out strong or weak, will offer clues to December's borrowing.
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