Measuring U.S. Credit Card Borrowing: An Analysis of the G.19's Estimate of Consumer Revolving Credit

FRB of Philadelphia Payment Cards Center Discussion Paper No. 06-03

35 Pages Posted: 8 Jun 2006

Date Written: April 2006

Abstract

This paper, by Mark Furletti and Christopher Ody, describes the Federal Reserve System's monthly estimate of revolving consumer credit as published in the G.19 statistical release. It analyzes the source data, sampling methods, and calculations on which this estimate currently relies. In addition, it proposes a framework for analyzing the revolving credit statistic and suggests modifications to how the estimate is calculated and presented. The paper concludes that the revolving credit estimate is highly accurate and proposes that the System consider five modifications that would improve its usefulness to researchers.

Keywords: Consumer credit, Credit cards, Debt

JEL Classification: E51, B41

Suggested Citation

Furletti, Mark J. and Ody, Christopher J., Measuring U.S. Credit Card Borrowing: An Analysis of the G.19's Estimate of Consumer Revolving Credit (April 2006). FRB of Philadelphia Payment Cards Center Discussion Paper No. 06-03, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=897740 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.897740

Mark J. Furletti (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia ( email )

Ten Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA 19106-1574
United States

Christopher J. Ody

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management ( email )

2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

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