Consumers cut borrowing
WASHINGTON(AP)—Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions. Economists worry that the declines in borrowing will drag on the fledgling recovery.
The Federal Reserve said Friday that borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September. That’s the biggest decline since July and was larger than the $10 billion drop economists expected.
Americans are borrowing less as they try to repair cracked nest eggs and replenish rainy day funds in a dismal jobs market. Many are finding it hard to get credit as banks, hit by the worst financial crisis in decades, have tightened lending standards.
Borrowing by consumers for revolving credit, including credit cards, fell at an annual rate of 13.3 percent in September, the same as August. This category has declined for a record 12 straight months.
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