WASHINGTON, D.C. — After remaining low for much of 2009, the average interest rate on new-car loans at auto finance companies crept up to 3.94 percent in January of this year, according to the Federal Reserve.

This is the highest level this figure has stood at since the first quarter of 2009 when the percentage came in at 4.71 percent. For December, this figure was 3.26 percent and it stood at 3.73 percent in November.

Continuing on, the Fed discovered that the median maturity level came in at 63.5 months in January, compared with 64 in December and 63.4 in November.

As for the loan-to-value ration, this came in at 90 for January, compared with 92 in December and 91 in November. The last time the ratio was this low was in the third quarter of 2009.

Meanwhile, the average amount financed dropped slightly to $29,379 for January, compared with $30,598 in December and $30,506 in November.

Unfortunately, the average interest rate on 48-month new-car loans at commercial banks was not available for January or December. However, this figure was 6.55 percent in November and 6.55 percent for the fourth quarter of 2009. This is the lowest figure available in the Fed's records.

Finally, the Federal Reserve reported, "Consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in January 2010. Revolving credit decreased at an annual rate of 2.25 percent and non-revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 5 percent."