CreditCards.com: Weekly Credit Card Rate Report

AUSTIN, Texas — The national average annual percentage rate on new credit card offers was unchanged this week at 12.28 percent, according to the CreditCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report, as issuers left APRs alone amid mixed economic signals.

The national average credit card APR is comprised of 95 of the most popular credit cards in the country, including cards from dozens of leading U.S. issuers and representing every card category listed below. (Introductory, or teaser, rates are not included in the calculation.) The average APRs in nine card categories held steady.

Rates for card categories tracked by CreditCards.com are listed below:

Credit Card Rate Averages
  ————————-
                                 Avg. APR        Last week       6 months ago
  National Average         12.28%           12.28%           12.14%
  Balance Transfer          10.32%           10.32%           11.18%
  Business                     10.49%           10.49%           16.74%
  Low Interest                11.52%           11.52%           11.83%
  Cash Back                   11.69%           11.69%           13.22%
  Reward                       12.16%           12.16%           11.56%
  Instant Approval          13.32%           13.32%           11.29%
  Airline                        13.79%           13.79%           13.02%
  Bad Credit                  14.29%           14.29%           12.77%
  Student                      14.45%           14.45%           14.57%
  Source: CreditCards.com
  Updated: 9-17-09

Banks left APRs unchanged against a mixed economic backdrop. On Tuesday, retail sales data showed an increase in August, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stated that the recession was "very likely over."

However, Bernanke added that the economic rebound is unlikely to produce many jobs. Unemployment has threatened borrowers’ ability to make payments, with credit card issuers reporting they continued to deal with delinquent cardholders last month. Analysts have noted that banks are, in part, raising APRs and fees to offset these potential losses.

The CreditCards.com credit card rate survey is conducted weekly, using offer data from the leading U.S. card issuers as found on their Web sites. Introductory offer periods and regular interest rates will vary with applicants’ credit quality and issuer risk-based pricing policies.

About CreditCards.com
CreditCards.com is the leading online credit card marketplace connecting consumers with multiple credit card issuers, including several of the 10 largest in the United States, based on credit card transaction volume. CreditCards.com, http://www.creditcards.com/, enables consumers to search for, compare and apply for credit cards and offers credit card issuers an online channel to acquire qualified applicants.