NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian released today data through October 2017 for the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices. The indices represent a comprehensive measure of changes in consumer credit defaults and show that the composite rate increased two basis points from last month to 0.90%. The bank card default rate rose 13 basis points to 3.28%. Auto loan defaults rose six basis points to 1.11%. The first mortgage default rate increased one basis point from September to 0.67%.

Three of the five major cities saw their composite default rates rise in the month of October. Chicago had the largest increase, up eight basis points to 1.08%. Los Angeles increased seven basis points to 0.72%, while New York came in at 1.00%, up three basis points from September. The default rate for Dallas was unchanged at 0.78%, while Miami dropped to 1.06%, representing a 13 basis point monthly decrease.

The uptick in the national bank card default rate was the first monthly increase since May 2017. All four census divisions recorded a rise in bank card default rates in October. The Midwest, where the rate increased 17 basis points to 3.20%, represented the largest monthly increase. This was followed by the West which came in at 3.23%, a 15 basis points increase. The bank card default rate in the Northeast rose 11 basis points from last month to 3.16%, while the rate in the South jumped 10 basis points to 3.44%.

The auto and first mortgage default rates are both within three basis points of their levels from one year ago; however, the bank card default rate is now more than 50 basis points higher than the rate from one year ago.

"For the first time since January 2017, the default rates for autos, bank cards and mortgages all rose together," says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. "The economy is doing well, with 3% GDP growth in the third quarter, stable inflation, low unemployment and retail sales growing at a 4% annual rate. Auto sales jumped in September after drifting lower for most of the summer and then pulled back slightly in October. The data does not suggest any unusual financial stress facing consumers which would explain the small, but across the board, increases in the default rates."

"Looking more closely at consumers, monthly measures of consumer sentiment and expectations remain strong. People are spending: auto sales, retail numbers and discretionary items such as restaurants are all gaining. Total consumer credit outstanding is growing at a 6.6% annual rate while revolving credit outstanding is rising at a 7.7% annual rate. The one concerning item, which might explain the default numbers, is recent softness in real disposable personal income. If a widening spread between income and spending appears, defaults may fill the gap."

The table below summarizes the October 2017 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:

For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit www.spdji.com.

ABOUT THE S&P/EXPERIAN CONSUMER CREDIT DEFAULT INDICES

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.

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500^® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average^®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has become home to over 1,000,000 indices across the spectrum of asset classes that have helped define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spdji.com.

ABOUT EXPERIAN

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments – from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers – we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organisations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have more than 16,000 people operating across 37 countries and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

David Blitzer
Managing Director and Chairman of Index Committee
New York, USA
(+1) 212 438 3907
david.blitzer@spglobal.com

Luke Shane
North America Communications
New York, USA
(+1) 212 438 8184
luke.shane@spglobal.com

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

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices