Consumer credit growth slows in April as credit card debt drops

WASHINGTON -- Consumer borrowing posted the smallest increase in six months in April as Americans actually paid off some of their credit card debt.

The Federal Reserve reported Thursday that consumer borrowing rose at an annual rate of just 1.3 percent in April, down from a 7 percent rise in March. It was the weakest showing since consumer debt rose at a tiny 0.1 percent rate last October.

The slowdown was led by a 0.5 percent rate of decline in the category of debt that includes credit cards. That meant consumers were paying off more credit card debt than they incurred in May, something that has not occurred in 13 months.