Updated: 05-Jun-09 15:13 ET

March Consumer Credit

Updated: 05-Jun-09 15:13 ET

Highlights

Key Factors

Big Picture

• Consumers have been retrenching, and that includes credit.  This is not likely to change until employment and income trends improve.  The trend could be further worsened by government intervention to reduce prices (interest rates) that credit card companies can charge.  This may lead to lower supply of credit if the companies perceive that price restrictions would lead to losses amongst high credit risks.