WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearing the lowest point so far in 2010, the Federal Reserve indicated the average interest rate on new-car loans at auto finance companies slipped again in June. Federal officials pinpointed the average at 4.02 percent.

Back in January, officials indicated the average was 3.94 percent.

The June rate came after the Federal Reserve noted the average held steady in both April and May. That mark was 4.13 percent.

Looking at the average for the entire second quarter, the Fed computed it to be 4.09 percent. Each of the quarterly marks this year has been above 4 percent, coming after a string of three consecutive quarters in 2009 when officials put the average below 4 percent.

Continuing on, the Fed discovered that the median maturity level came in at 63.1 months in June. This reading has made a near-steady climb since the low point of the year, which arrived in February when it was 62.5 months.

As for the loan-to-value ratio, this figure stood at 87 in June, the second consecutive month at that level. In April it was slightly higher at 88. The Fed mentioned the highest recent figure in this category was in the first quarter of this year when the loan-to-value ratio was 89.

Meanwhile, the average amount financed climbed in June as well to $27,980. In May, it was $27,886 while in April it was $27,797. The average is the highest since February when the Fed placed it at $28,040.

Unfortunately, the average interest rate on 48-month new-car loans at commercial banks was not available for June. However, this figure was 6.26 percent in May and for the first quarter of 2010.

Finally, the Federal Reserve reported, "In June, consumer credit decreased at an annual rate of 0.75 percent, revolving credit decreased at an annual rate of 6.5 percent, and nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent."