ATLANTA — According to Equifax's latest National Consumer Credit
Trends Report, the total outstanding balances on auto and credit card loans
increased year-over-year in August.

Analysts contend the total balance of existing auto loans is
at its highest level in more than five years.

For bank-issued credit cards, it is the first time in five
years that balances increased in two consecutive months while retail card
balances have notched 24 consecutive months of year-over-year growth.

Year-over-year changes in balances for August included:

—Auto: Increased 9.7 percent from $760.8 billion to $834.4
billion

—Bank credit card: Increased 0.2 percent from $537.0 billion
to $537.8 billion

—Retail credit card: Increased 7.0 percent from $51.9
billion to $55.9 billion

In addition, Equifax pointed out auto and credit card
portfolios are the only two major segments in which rising balances accompany
improving delinquency rates.

According the credit reporting firm, year-over-year changes
in the 60-day plus delinquency rates as a percentage of total balances
outstanding, included:

—Auto: Decreased more than 10 percent from 1.28 percent to
1.14 percent

—Bank credit card: Decreased more than 13 percent from 2.10
percent to 1.81 percent

—Retail credit card: Decreased 0.9 percent from 3.37 percent
to 3.34 percent

"Our data consistently indicates that the American consumer
is being very disciplined in their use of credit. It's like they've gone on a
debt-diet and they are really sticking to it, with modest increases in line
with capacity to repay," Equifax chief economist Amy Crews Cutts said.

"If we exclude student loans, total consumer debt is down 15 percent from its
peak and delinquency rates outside of home loans and student loans are back to
pre-recession levels," Crews Cutts continued. "Economic conditions are causing the lingering high
default rates on student loans and mortgages, and hopefully we will see those
improve more quickly in coming months."

Other highlights from the most recent Equifax data included
more notable trends.

Auto

—The total number of loans outstanding in August is more than
61 million, a 57-month high.

—By source, loans funded by banks, savings and loans or
credit unions are at $401.7 billion, while the total number of loans is 29.5
million — a five-year high for both.

—The total outstanding balance for loans funded by auto
finance companies is $432.7 billion, a 56-month high, while the total number of
existing loans is more than 31.8 million, its highest level in 54-months.

—The total balance of auto loan originations year-to-date in
June was 237.6 billion, an increase of nearly 15 percent from same time a year
ago and the most new credit originated for that time period in more than eight
years.

Bank-Issued Credit Card

—At $93.3 billion, the total limit of new credit issued
between January and June was at a five-year high for that year-to-date period and
an increase of more than 68 percent above the recession low of $55.5 billion
for the same time during 2010.

—The total number of new loans year-to-date in June was 20.1
million, a five-year high and an increase of 6.3 percent from same time a year
ago.

—The total number of existing loans stood at more than 310
million, a 43-month high.

—The total bank card credit limit was more than $2.4
trillion, a 43-month high.

Retail-issued Credit Card

—At $34.2 billion, the total limit of new credit issued
through June marked an increase of nearly 33 percent above the recession low of
$25.8 billion for the first six months of 2010.

—18 million new loans were issued between January and June,
the highest since 2008, and an increase of more than 7 percent above the same
period last year.

—Year-to-date lending through June to subprime credit
borrowers, defined as those with Equifax Risk scores below 660, increased at a
rate of 15 percent above the same time a year ago. And 5.9 million loans were
originated, the highest in 5 years.

—The total number of existing loans stands at more than 180
million.

—The total retail card credit limit is at nearly $350
billion.

Home Finance

—The total balance of first mortgages in August came in at $7.7
trillion, a decrease of 1.2 percent from same time a year ago.

—The total balance of first mortgage severely delinquencies
(90-days past due or in foreclosure) stood at $300 billion, a decrease of more
than 28 percent from same time a year ago and a five-year low.

—In August, the total balance of home equity revolving loans
was $500.4 billion, a decrease of 7.4 percent from same time a year ago and a
five-year low. Similarly, the total number of loans outstanding in August was
10.5 million, a five-year low.

—The total balance of severely delinquent home equity
revolving loans in August was less than $9 billion, a decrease of 25 percent
from same time a year ago and a five-year low.

—The total balance of home equity installment loans is
$136.7 billion, a decrease of 4.2 percent from same time a year ago, while the
total number of loans outstanding is 4 million, a five-year low.

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