美信用卡債務創新高：已超2008年房市危機紀錄

美國人比以往更依賴于信用卡的使用，信用卡負債水平也隨之創下新高，引發了人們對未來潛在經濟問題的擔憂。

據美聯儲發布的數據，11月份以信用卡負債為主的美國循環性信貸規模增加了112億美元，達到1.023萬億美元。比起2008年4月房市和信貸泡沫破滅時創下的記錄，這個數字還要更高一些。

同時，信用卡的違約也開始增加。去年，存在拖欠還款現象的信用卡比例從7%上漲到7.5%。信貸策略師表示，雖然這個數字遠低于金融危機爆發前的15%，但是也構成了一個預警信號。

不過，現在就業人數和收入都處于上漲態勢，帶來利好，短期內不會出現經濟衰退現象。瑞銀分析師斯蒂芬·卡普里奧告訴《今日美國》當前信用卡負債占美國國內生產總值的5%，而2008年這個數字是6.5%。

然而，他警告我們不要掉以輕心。不管是勞動力市場還是總體經濟出現疲勢，都會大大加深信用卡負債問題的嚴重程度。（財富中文網）

譯者：陳亞芬/汪皓?

Americans are using their credit cards more than ever, resulting in record levels of debt—and raising concerns about potential economic problems in the future.

The Federal Reserve says revolving credit in November (which largely consists of credit card debt) hit $1.023 trillion, an $11.2 billion increase. That’s slightly higher than the previous record set in April 2008, right before the housing and credit bubbles burst.

We’re not getting any better at paying off those bills, either. Credit card delinquencies in the past year have jumped from 7% to 7.5%. That’s notably lower than the 15% rate hit before the financial crisis, but could be an early warning sign, say credit strategists.

The good news is both jobs and incomes are on the rise right now, which means a financial downturn isn’t imminent. UBS Credit Strategist Stephen Caprio tells USA Today that the ratio of credit card debt to U.S. gross domestic product is about 5%, compared with 6.5% in 2008.

But, he cautions, a turn in either the labor market or overall economy could make the issue of credit card debt a major one.