NEW YORK—Consumer credit default rates continued to hold steady in February according to the latest data from Experian.
The S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices shows a composite rate of 0.97% in February, within one basis point of the rate in the previous two months.
The bank card default rate increased four basis points in February, recording a default rate of 2.56%. Auto loan defaults reported in at 1.05% in February, up one basis point from January. The first mortgage default rate was unchanged in February, reporting a default rate of 0.84%.
Three of the five major cities saw their default rates decrease during the month of February. Miami reported a default rate of 1.07%, down 10 basis points from the January default rate. Dallas reported a default rate of 1.03%, an eight basis point decrease from the prior month. New York recorded a default rate of 0.97% in February, down seven basis points. Chicago was unchanged for February, reporting a default rate of 1.02%. Los Angeles was the only city to report a default rate increase, with a 0.76% default rate, up four basis points from January.
“Low and stable consumer credit default rates confirm the positive picture of the consumer economy seen in recent data on personal income and consumption,” said David M. Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the Index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Other positive indicators of the consumer economy include continued strong auto sales and rising home prices. Measures of consumer confidence and sentiment remain at high levels after slipping a bit in January and February. Consumer credit usage continues to expand, though January’s most recent data showed a somewhat slower pace than in the 2015 fourth quarter.”
Recent gains in the labor market -- a large jump in job growth in February, an unemployment rate at 4.9% and the low level of weekly initial unemployment claims -- all contribute to good consumer credit conditions, added Blitzer.
“Low and falling gasoline prices imply extra spending money for many consumers, helping both spending and credit issues,” he said. “However, there could be some risk here – crude oil prices fell to a recent low last month before rebounding. Between February 11th and March 11th, oil prices moved from $26.21 to$38.50/barrel, a rise of 47%. If this is sustained, it could dampen consumer spending somewhat. While inflation is largely absent from current economic reports, the same strong job growth boosting consumer spending may be setting the stage for future price increases or further action from the Fed to raise the interest rate. For now, low default rates and a strong consumer economy are in place.”