Interest Rate on Credit Card Plans

The data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data tracks the interest rate charged by commercial banks on credit card plans where interest is assessed. It is based on bank call report data and measured as a percentage rate. The data goes back to 1985, when the average credit card interest rate at commercial banks was around 15%. Rates rose steadily through the late 1980s and early 1990s, peaking at over 17% in 1991. They declined through the mid and late 1990s, dropping under 14% in 1998. Credit card interest rates fluctuated between 12-16% in the 2000s and 2010s. The latest data as of November 2022 shows an average rate of 15.62%. The trends reflect changing economic conditions, as interest rates tend to rise during periods of high inflation and fall during economic slowdowns. Monitoring the commercial bank credit card interest rate provides insight into borrowing costs and access to revolving credit for consumers.