Credit Cards
- 13.71% (all fixed)
- 14.48% (all variable)
The average annual percentage rate, or APR, for variable-rate credit cards inched up 2 basis points to 14.48 percent from 14.46 percent, according to Bankrate's latest survey of interest rates. The fixed rate stayed steady at 13.71 percent, where it has been for four straight weeks. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.
More American credit card holders are falling 90 days or more behind on payments, according to a report by TransUnion. The delinquency rate rose to 0.71 percent in the third quarter from 0.60 percent in the previous quarter, marking the first increase since the fourth quarter of 2009. The reason? TransUnion says more credit-risky consumers are getting new cards and missing payments.