NEW YORK, May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Data through April 2015, released today by S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian for the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices, a comprehensive measure of changes in consumer credit defaults, continued its downward trend in default rates. The composite index posted a historical low of 0.97% in April, a decrease of eight basis points, and its lowest level since July 2014. The second mortgage default rate also reported a historical low, down seven basis points to 0.43%. The auto loan default rate posted its second consecutive decrease with a reported rate of 0.94%, down nine basis points and its lowest level since June 2014. The first mortgage default rate decreased for a third consecutive month, down nine basis points to 0.83%, its largest reported decrease since May 2014. The bank card default rate continued to rise, reporting a rate of 3.18%, an increase of 19 basis points and its highest reported rate since July 2013.

Four of the five major cities reported negative month over month default rate results in April. Miami led the way reporting a rate of 1.20%, down 19 basis points from the previous month. Dallas reported a second consecutive decrease, down 15 basis points to 0.90%. Chicago reported a default rate of 1.05%, a decrease of 10 basis points, its lowest reported rate since July 2006. New York posted its first decrease since November 2014 with a reported rate of 1.10%, down 10 basis points. Los Angeles reported the only rate increase, a modest one basis point increase to 0.90%.

"Continued improvements in the economy and the labor markets seen in the April unemployment rate and job growth suggest consumers have reasons to be optimistic," says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee for  S&P Dow Jones Indices. "Apparently, that optimism has a darker side in rising defaults among bank card users. However, the current default rates are lower than those experienced before the financial crisis and should not present any significant economic concerns. Moreover, default experience in the mortgage series continues to impove. Overall, consumer credit conditions support further economic activity.

"Among the cities, the notable trend is that the default rates for all five continue to move closer and closer together. This is markedly different from the financial crisis when the default rates for Miami and Los Angeles were substantially higher than the other cities, especially compared to low rates in Dallas. City composite default rates are driven by first mortgage default rates and reflect the extent to which home prices fell after 2006. These patterns are another sign that housing is returning to more normal conditions."

The table below summarizes the April 2015 results for the S&P/Experian Credit Default Indices. These data are not seasonally adjusted and are not subject to revision.

The table below provides the S&P/Experian Consumer Default Composite Indices for the five MSAs:

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S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a part of McGraw Hill Financial, is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average™, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 1,000,000 indices covering a wide range of asset classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com. 

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About Experian
We are the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to our clients around the world. We help businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. We also help people to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft. In 2014, we were named by Forbes magazine as one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies."

We employ approximately 16,000 people in 39 countries and our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2014, was US$4.8 billion.

To find out more about our company, please visit http://www.experianplc.com or watch our documentary, "Inside Experian."

For more information:

Dave Guarino
Communications
S&P Dow Jones Indices
dave.guarino@spdji.com
(+1) 212-438-1471

David Blitzer
Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee
S&P Dow Jones Indices
david.blitzer@spdji.com
(+1) 212-438-3907

Jordan Takeyama
Experian Public Relations
jordan.takeyama@experian.com
(+1) 714-830-7561

Jointly developed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and Experian, the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices are published on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am ET. They are constructed to track the default experience of consumer balances in four key loan categories: auto, bankcard, first mortgage lien and second mortgage lien. The Indices are calculated based on data extracted from Experian's consumer credit database. This database is populated with individual consumer loan and payment data submitted by lenders to Experian every month. Experian's base of data contributors includes leading banks and mortgage companies, and covers approximately $11 trillion in outstanding loans sourced from 11,500 lenders.

For more information, please visit: www.consumercreditindices.standardandpoors.com.

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