U.S. consumers' average credit card debt fell by 7% through the first 10 months of the year, while their average credit scores in recent months stabilized, according to data from Credit Karma Inc.
Consumers' average credit card debit in October dropped 1.9% from September, to $7,382, according to data the San Francisco company published Nov. 10. Consumers' average card debt in October was down 2.5% from a year earlier. Credit Karma tracks credit scores and household debt online.
The average U.S. credit score in October was 666, down 3 points from 669 in January, Credit Karma said. The average credit score in October 2009 was 671.
Consumers in certain states are paying off their credit card debt faster than the average. In Wisconsin, consumers' average credit card debt declined by 28% since January. In Hawaii and Idaho, the average card debt declined 13%, and in Nevada and Oregon consumers paid down their credit card debt by 12% and 11% respectively.
"As consumers continue to pay down their debt, we're beginning to see credit scores stabilize nationwide," Ken Lin, Credit Karma's chief executive, said in a Nov. 10 press release.
California, Massachusetts and New Jersey had the highest credit scores nationally, averaging 684. Arkansas had the lowest average credit score nationally, 636.
Louisiana consumers' average credit score has risen the most this year, by 8 points since January, to 647.
