1Q Credit Card Net Payments At Lowest Level Since Recession

In the aftermath of the financial crisis US consumer credit card debt fell for the first time in years, a combination of people tightening their belts during a severe recession and defaults by those who were simply not able to pay. But the deleveraging didn’t last long and credit card debt started growing again in 2010. Last quarter, first quarter payments fell to their lowest level since the crisis down 1% from last year and 5% from 1Q12.

“While U.S. consumers paid down roughly $32.5 billion in outstanding credit card debt during the first quarter of 2014, that actually represents a 1% decline relative to Q1 2013 and the continued deterioration of credit card habits as Great Recession lessons fade...