What's the Average Consumer Debt?

Many consumers cut credit cards during the recession. (Photo:Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Consumer debt drives the American way of life. The statistics on average consumer debt show how debt increased greatly between 2002-2008. However, during the Great Recession, banks cut back on consumer lending. Then the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act increased regulations over credit cards, so they tightened credit standards.

How does consumer debt drive economic growth? Debt allows you to buy your home, education, and car without having to save for it. As long as the economy grows, you can pay off this debt more easily in the future. That's because your house grows in value, your education allows you a better-paying job and your car...sorry, your car is just an expense. But at least auto loans create jobs for autoworkers!

There are two main types of consumer debt: revolving debt, like credit cards, and non-revolving debt, like auto loans and mortgages. Both stimulate economic growth.

Consumer debt that's meant to be paid off every month is credit card debt, also known as revolving debt. Credit card debt reached a peak of $976 billion in October 2008, an average of $8,299 per household.

The recession curtailed credit card debt. It dropped more than 10% in each of the first three months of 2009. Despite this drop-off, credit card debt was still at $931 billion in April. That's an average of $7,957 of credit card debt per household.

Loans, such as auto loans, mortgages, or school loans, are a form of consumer debt called non-revolving debt. These loans are usually held for the life of the underlying asset. For a car, it's three to five years, and a home mortgage is usually 15-30 years. These loans can be paid back with fixed interest rates, or variable rates. If the borrower fails to make payments, the bank will usually reclaim the underlying asset.

Of course, the bank can't claim any asset on school loans. For that reason, most school loans are guaranteed by the Federal government. These loans have very low interest rates, to encourage higher education.That's because a more educated workforce leads to a healthier economy, in the long run.

Here's the month-by-month blog roll of average consumer debt statistics back to 2006. (Note that, in each monthly report, the Federal Reserve may also update statistics for the previous two or three months.) September - Credit Card Debt Down 4.1% in SeptemberAugust - Consumer Debt Hits New All-time HighJuly - Consumers Said "Back Away from the Credit Card" in JulyJune - June Credit Card Debt Shrank as Gas Prices Dropped May - Why Credit Card Debt Rose 11.2% in MayApril - Credit Card Debt Dropped in AprilMarch - Credit Card, School Debt Up, Signaling Consumer ConfidenceFebruary - School Loans Up, Credit Card Debt DownJanuary - Americans Set New Record in School LoansDecember - Student Loans Driving Credit BoomNovember - Consumer Debt SkyrocketingOctober - Families Taking on Debt to Pay for Cars and EducationSeptember - Average Family Still Owes More Than $6,000 in Credit Card DebtAugust - Worried Consumers Cutting Waaay Back on DebtJuly - Families Pay Down Credit Cards to Buy Cars and Go Back to SchoolJune - Credit Card Use Up 3.9%May - The Real Reasons Why Credit Card Use Was UpMarch - American Debt Back on UpswingApril - Falling Debt Means Lower Consumer ConfidenceFebruary - Credit Card Debt Still More Than $6,500 Per FamilyJanuary - Credit Card Debt Back on Downward TrendDecember - Shoppers Charged Their Way Through the HolidaysNovember - Fed Student Loans Three Times 2008 LevelsOctober - Americans Switching from Credit Cards to Auto LoansSeptember - Debt Lower Than in 2005August - Decline Shows Shift to ThriftJuly - Debt Back to 2005 LevelsJune - Spending Was Down 6.5% in JuneApril - Auto Debt Returns to Pre-Recession LevelsMarch - Americans Shun Plastic, Turn to Auto LoansFebruary - Card Use Drops Over 13%January - Americans Picking Up the Plastic AgainDecember - Shoppers Cut Cards for Record 11th Straight MonthNovember - Debt Dropped 18% in NovemberOctober - Good for You, Bad for EconomySeptember - Americans' Love Affair With Credit Is OverAugust - Consumers Continue Cutting Credit CardsJuly - Americans Keeping Credit Cards in WalletsJune - "Charge It? Not So MuchMay - Card Debt Plummets 11%November - Credit Card Use Drops 3.4%October - Card Use Declines As Banks Lower LimitsSeptember - American Debt Grows a Mere 1.2%August - Credit Crunch Spreads From Wall Street to Main StreetJuly - Card Use Levels OffJune - "Charge It? Not So MuchMay - Americans Back to Familiar Refrain - Charge It!April - Are Consumers Tapped Out?March - Card Use ReboundsFebruary - Credit 5.9% Greater than Last YearJanuary - Consumer Debt 7% Greater than Prior YearNovember - Credit Card Use 11% Greater Than Last YearAugust - Debt Up 8%March - Debt Up 7.6% Almost $3,000 per PersonNovember - Credit Debt Up 1.2% Is Yours?

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