Household debt increased during the fourth quarter for the first time in nearly four years despite a continued drop in mortgage borrowing, according to the Federal Reserve.
Debt rose just 0.3% at a seasonally adjusted rate, but marked the first increase since the first quarter 2008. For all of 2011, household debt dropped 0.9%, well below yearly prerecession increases.
Consumer credit climbed 6.9%, the fifth straight quarter of growth, and ended 2011 up 3.5%.
Read More: http://www.housingwire.com/article/household-debt-rises-4q-though-mortgage-debt-declines
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