WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Reserve discovered December's average interest rate on new-car loans at auto finance companies moved lower by the largest amount in six months.

After climbing higher for five consecutive months, the December average ticked down to 4.55 percent. Officials indicated the November average was 4.63 percent.

The last time the Fed spotted this much of a downward push was during June and July of last year. That's when the average slid down from 4.02 percent to 3.87 percent before starting an ascent that lasted for nearly the remainder of 2010.

While the average interest rate increase finally dipped, the Fed determined the median maturity level also moved lower but the loan-to-value ratio remained flat in December.

The median maturity level slid to 61.3 months. It hasn't been that low since the Fed noticed the level at 61.8 in August 2009.

Meanwhile, officials pointed out December's loan-to-value ratio stood pat at 82, staying at the lowest reading of the year.

The average amount financed edged lower, too. The Fed said December average came in at $27,260, off from November's average of $27,433. The figure has dropped considerably since the high-water mark that happened in January when it was $29,379.

The average interest rate on 48-month new-car loans at commercial banks was not available for December. The previous reading officials shared was for November when it was 5.87 percent.

In closing its report, the Federal Reserve indicated, "Consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter. Revolving credit declined at an annual rate of 2.75 percent, and non-revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 5.5 percent. In December, consumer credit increased 3 percent at an annual rate."