US Consumer Borrowing Soared by $25.8 Billion in August

Photo of Paul Ausick
By Paul Ausick Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
US Consumer Borrowing Soared by $25.8 Billion in August

© Thinkstock

The Federal Reserve on Friday released its preliminary report on consumer credit for the month of August 2016. On a seasonally adjusted basis, consumer credit rose 8.5% in the month, up from 5.9% growth posted in July.

In dollar terms, consumer credit rose by $25.8 billion month over month. Analysts had been expecting an increase of $16.6 billion.

Total consumer debt rose to $3.687 trillion in August of which $974.6 billion is revolving (mostly credit card) debt and $2.712 trillion is non-revolving debt. Revolving debt rose by $5.6 billion (7%) and non-revolving debt rose by $20.2 billion (9%). Revolving credit comprises primarily credit card balances and non-revolving credit includes motor vehicle loans, student loans, among others, and may be secured or unsecured. Mortgage debt is not included in the report.

[nativounit]

The largest holders of consumer debt are depositary institutions which hold about $1.473 trillion in debt, including certain types of student loans. The federal government holds about $1.024 trillion in  total debt, all of which is non-revolving and includes certain kinds of student loans. Finance companies and credit unions are also large holders of non-revolving debt, with August totals of about $670.9 billion and $369.6 billion, respectively.

[wallst_email_signup]

Photo of Paul Ausick
About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

KMX Vol: 7,330,419
GLW Vol: 22,800,969
INTC Vol: 233,719,006
SMCI Vol: 68,465,534
ENPH Vol: 13,978,376

Top Losing Stocks

ACN Vol: 41,744,333
EPAM Vol: 5,636,587
CTSH Vol: 61,311,400
CTRA Vol: 73,319,495
KR Vol: 26,704,230