Here's a look at the state of credit card interest rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted Nov. 18, 2009.Interest Rate RoundupMortgagesCDsAuto LoansHome EquityCredit CardsCredit CardsRates: 13.46 percent (standard fixed); 11.48 percent (standard variable)Average credit card interest rates again held steady this week. Fixed-rate cards charged an average of 12.31 percent for purchases while the mean variable rate came to 11.68 percent.The average fixed APR on standard cards stood at 13.46 percent, and the average variable rate clung to 11.48 percent.More people plan to use debit cards and cash instead of credit cards to pay for gifts this holiday season, according to a National Retail Federation survey released Tuesday. Nearly 68 percent of shoppers intend to pay for most presents with cash or debit cards, and about 29 percent will charge up their credit cards.The number of folks who aim to shell out greenbacks for gifts increased by 9.1 percent compared to last year, while 10.1 percent fewer consumers are expected to put presents on credit. The greatest number of people will rely on their debit cards -- around 43 percent -- but this group grew by a mere 2.5 percent. A tiny 4 percent of consumers will write personal checks.You can find your best credit card deal -- by type -- at Bankrate's interactive tool.See all credit card interest rate stories.-- Leslie McFadden advertisementRelated Links:Finding the ideal card6 ways to get free gift cardsWhy credit limits get cutRelated Articles:Tricky Web programs exposed6 smart credit card movesGet a secured credit card?
Here's a look at the state of credit card interest rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted Nov. 18, 2009.
Average credit card interest rates again held steady this week. Fixed-rate cards charged an average of 12.31 percent for purchases while the mean variable rate came to 11.68 percent.
The average fixed APR on standard cards stood at 13.46 percent, and the average variable rate clung to 11.48 percent.
More people plan to use debit cards and cash instead of credit cards to pay for gifts this holiday season, according to a National Retail Federation survey released Tuesday. Nearly 68 percent of shoppers intend to pay for most presents with cash or debit cards, and about 29 percent will charge up their credit cards.
The number of folks who aim to shell out greenbacks for gifts increased by 9.1 percent compared to last year, while 10.1 percent fewer consumers are expected to put presents on credit. The greatest number of people will rely on their debit cards -- around 43 percent -- but this group grew by a mere 2.5 percent. A tiny 4 percent of consumers will write personal checks.
You can find your best credit card deal -- by type -- at Bankrate's interactive tool.
See all credit card interest rate stories.
-- Leslie McFadden
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A little research could save you BIG on interest.