Revolving Credit Falls; Overall Credit Grows

Revolving consumer credit, which is mostly made up of credit card loans, fell in November by the largest amount in a year, according to a report Thursday from the Federal Reserve Board.

Revolving consumer credit outstanding fell on a seasonally adjusted basis by about $1 billion to $882 billion, according to the monthly report. That was the largest such drop in 12 months.

Nonrevolving consumer credit grew again in November, up by $15 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis. Nonrevolving credit includes auto loans and student loans, but not mortgages.

Overall, consumer credit, excluding mortgages, rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.1% in November, the report found.

The drop in revolving consumer credit outstanding interrupted a trend that's been welcomed by the credit card industry - renewed loan growth. Revolving credit grew by $4 billion in the first quarter of 2014, $14 billion in the second quarter and $6 billion in the third quarter, according to Fed data.

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