Consumer Credit in U.S. Drops Record $17.5 Billion in November

Consumer Credit in U.S. Drops Record $17.5 Billion in November

Consumer credit in the U.S. dropped a record $17.5 billion in November as unemployment close to a 26- year high discouraged borrowing and banks limited access to loans.

The slump in credit to $2.46 trillion was more than anticipated and followed a revised $4.2 billion drop in October, Federal Reserve figures showed today in Washington. The median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News projected a decrease of $5 billion. The figures track credit card debt and non-revolving loans, such as those to buy autos.

The U.S. unexpectedly lost 85,000 jobs in December,

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