Credit card balances hit record high amid inflation: TransUnion

Americans have turned to credit cards to ease the pressure of high inflation, bringing balances to a record level, according to a report by TransUnion. 

Bankcard balances climbed to a record $866 billion in the third quarter of 2022, up 19% from last year, according to the report.

But as many Americans utilize this financial option, they could also be piling up long-term debt. The average credit card debt per borrower was $5,474 in the third quarter, up from $4,857 in the third quarter of 2021, the TransUnion report said.

If you’re struggling with credit card debt, you could consider paying it off with a personal loan at a lower interest rate, potentially decreasing your monthly payments. Visit Credible to compare personal loan rates from multiple lenders at once without affecting your credit score.

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Americans also turn to personal loans to fight inflation 

While rising prices tighten the budgets of many Americans, some have also turned to personal loans. 

The number of consumers with access to unsecured personal loans reached a record 22 million, up from 19.2 million last year, according to the TransUnion report.

"Consumers are being pressured on multiple fronts, first by this environment of high inflation, and secondarily by the higher interest rates that the Federal Reserve is implementing to tamp it down," Michele Raneri, TransUnion vice president of U.S. research and consulting, said in the report. 

But even as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to fight inflation this year, personal loan interest rates are at a near-record gap with credit cards. The average interest rate on credit card plans was 16.27% as of August, according to the latest data released by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, the average finance rate on 24-month personal loans was 10.16% as of August. 

If you are looking to pay down debt, you can consolidate it with a personal loan at a lower interest rate. To see if a debt consolidation loan is right for you, contact Credible to speak to a personal loan expert and get all your questions answered. 

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Fed expected to raise interest rates again in 2023

To fight inflation, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates six times in 2022, most recently with its fourth consecutive 75-basis point rate increase. 

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that the central bank may slow the pace of increases as early as February. But any increase to the federal funds rate can influence interest rates on financial products like credit cards, personal loans and student loans. 

"We are moving our policy stance purposefully to a level that will be sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2%," Powell said at a press conference in November. 

Inflation increased by 7.7% annually in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS). That’s an improvement from the 8.2% annual increase in September but still remains close to the 40-year high of 9.1% from earlier this year.

If you want to take advantage of interest rates before they rise higher, you could consider using a personal loan to consolidate your high-interest debt at a lower rate, potentially reducing your monthly payments. You can visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.

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