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Americans Paring Down Credit Card Debt

December 30, 2005
The annual credit card survey conducted by Myvesta, a nonprofit consumer education organization, shows the average amount of credit card debt carried by individuals has declined by 11.4 percent.

The average American is now carrying $2,328 in credit card debt, down from $2,627 in 2004. Individuals also haven't added any new credit cards to their wallets in the past year. Americans still hold an average of 2.9 cards each, the same as in 2004.

"While it's great that many Americans have been able to reduce their overall credit card debt, let's hope we don't wake up to a holiday hangover when the credit card bills for this holiday season start arriving in January," said Steve Rhode, president of Myvesta.

"If consumers used credit for their holiday purchases this year, they might erase any progress they have made toward paying down their debt."

According to the annual Holiday Shopping Survey conducted by Myvesta, the average American planned to spend $747 on their purchases in 2005.

If that amount was charged on credit cards and added to the average credit card debt of $2,328, the total would be $3,075.

Some other results from Myvesta's survey include:

• Males have an average of $2,369 of credit card debt spread out over 2.8 cards; females average $2,289 of credit card debt on 3.1 cards.

• Married individuals have an average of $2,625 of credit card debt; non-married individuals have an average of $1,744 of credit card debt.

• Individuals in the West are carrying the most credit card debt with an average of $2,547. People in the Midwest are carrying the smallest balances with an average of $1,972 of credit card debt. Individuals in the South have an average of $2,465 on their cards and those in the Northeast carry an average balance of $2,199.

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