US consumer debt rises on more car and school loans

The Federal Reserve said Tuesday that consumers increased their borrowing in November by US$16 billion from October to a seasonally adjusted record of US$2.77 trillion.

Borrowing that covers autos and student loans increased US$15.2 billion. A category that measures credit card debt rose just US$817 million.

The sharp difference in the borrowing gains illustrates a broader trend that began after the Great Recession. Four years ago, Americans carried US$1.03 trillion in credit card debt, an all-time high. In November, that figure was 16.5 percent lower.

At the same time, student loan debt has increased dramatically. The category that includes auto and student loans is 22.8-percent higher than in July 2008. Many Americans who have lost jobs have gone back to school to get training for new careers.

The November increase also reflected further gains in auto sales, which grew 13.4 percent in 2012 to top 14 million units for the first time in five years. The need to replace vehicles destroyed by Superstorm Sandy may have also contributed to the gain.

Consumer spending rebounded in November, helped by lower gas prices and solid job growth that carried over into December. Employers added 155,000 jobs in December and 161,000 in November.

Steady hiring may have encouraged consumers to keep borrowing and spending, despite tense negotiations to resolve the fiscal cliff.

Still, some analysts expect borrowing and spending may have slowed in December as those budget talks in Washington intensified. Congress and the White House didn't reach a deal to avert sharp tax increases until Jan. 1. And they delayed tougher decisions about spending cuts for another two months.

Consumer confidence fell in both November and December, which may slow spending in December. Consumer spending drives roughly 70 percent of economic activity.

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