NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian released today data through November 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 decreased one basis point from last month to 0.89%. The bank card default rate was unchanged at 3.28% and the auto loan default rate was unchanged at 1.11%. The first mortgage default rate decreased one basis point from October to 0.66%.

Three of the five major cities saw their composite default rates rise in November. Los Angeles and Dallas had the largest increases, with Los Angeles up from 0.72% to 0.76% and Dallas up from 0.78% to 0.82%. Chicago also reported an increase, up one basis point to 1.09%.The default rate for New York fell seven basis points to 0.93% while the rate for Miami dropped nine basis points to 0.97%.

The auto loan default rate has been higher or unchanged in each of the past five months, and it remains at its highest level since December 2013. The bank card default rate has exceeded 3% each month so far this year and remains at its highest level since July 2017.

First mortgages are the only loan type to report a lower default rate versus one year ago. Due to higher default rates in bank cards and auto loans, the composite default rate shows a two basis point increase over this period.

Analysis

"Default rates on bank cards and auto loans held steady while the first mortgage default rate pulled back slightly in November," says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. "Since both auto loan and bank card defaults have trended up for much of 2017, this is favorable. First mortgage default rates are flat to down so far in 2017. The patterns across the five cities highlighted here are mixed, though Miami remains slightly above the others.

"The overall economy is ending 2017 on a strong note with very low unemployment, modest inflation and real GDP up better than a 3% annual rate in the second and third quarters. At the same time, the savings rate – personal savings as a percentage of disposable personal income – is slipping as spending rises faster than income for most Americans. As recently as October 2015, the savings rate was 6.3%; in October 2017, it was halved to 3.2%. With spending rising faster than wages, the savings rate is likely to drop further and consumers will be forced to increase their borrowing. Whether wage growth picks up, spending slows, or default rates climb remains to be seen."

The table below summarizes the November 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