In Brief: Consumer Debt Growth Cooled in March

U.S. consumers sharply slowed the pace at which they piled on debt in March, as outstanding consumer credit rose $1.6 billion, or a 1.4% annual rate, according to figures released Friday by the Federal Reserve.

The pace of advance was down significantly from an unrevised $8.7 billion gain, or an 8.0% annual pace, in February.

The Fed said the March increase was the smallest monthly gain by dollar amount since November 1997, when there was a decline of $3.1 billion.

Wall Street analysts had expected a gain of around $6 billion.

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