The following represents historical data on credit card interest rates in the United States. These rates are presented as functions of credit card delinquency, national unemployment and credit card charge-offs. The margin reflects the differential above the Prime Rate.
Credit card interest rates are quite revealing, as they speak to changes in the economic environment, allow for historical comparison, and enable consumers to determine if they are getting a good deal on their credit card. Furthermore, they can be used to unearth seasonal trends in credit card offers and therefore time applications more fortuitously.
Historical Credit Card Interest Rates
Historical Credit Card Interest Rates
| Date | Avg. Interest Rate of All Credit Card Accounts | Avg. Assessed Interest Rate of Accounts with Finance Charges | Interest Rate Margin of All Credit Card Accounts | Interest Rate Margin of Accounts with Finance Charges | 30+ Credit Card Delinquency Rate | Unemployment Rate | Charge-off Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb:91 | 18.28% | N/A | 9.23% | N/A | 5.29% | 6.60% | 4.18% |
| May:91 | 18.22% | N/A | 9.72% | N/A | 5.32% | 6.90% | 4.68% |
| Aug:91 | 18.25% | N/A | 9.75% | N/A | 5.41% | 6.90% | 4.75% |
| Nov:91 | 18.20% | N/A | 10.62% | N/A | 5.30% | 7.00% | 4.69% |
| Feb:92 | 18.10% | N/A | 11.60% | N/A | 5.31% | 7.40% | 4.91% |
| May:92 | 17.98% | N/A | 11.48% | N/A | 4.96% | 7.60% | 4.93% |
| Aug:92 | 17.68% | N/A | 11.68% | N/A | 5.04% | 7.60% | 4.32% |
| Nov:92 | 17.36% | N/A | 11.36% | N/A | 4.70% | 7.40% | 4.58% |
| Feb:93 | 17.23% | N/A | 11.23% | N/A | 4.63% | 7.10% | 4.09% |
| May:93 | 17.18% | N/A | 11.18% | N/A | 4.33% | 7.10% | 3.90% |
| Aug:93 | 16.59% | N/A | 10.59% | N/A | 4.14% | 6.80% | 3.58% |
| Nov:93 | 16.31% | N/A | 10.31% | N/A | 3.91% | 6.60% | 3.39% |
| Feb:94 | 16.09% | N/A | 10.09% | N/A | 3.62% | 6.60% | 3.29% |
| May:94 | 16.15% | N/A | 9.16% | N/A | 3.18% | 6.10% | 3.06% |
| Aug:94 | 16.32% | N/A | 8.81% | N/A | 3.29% | 6.00% | 2.92% |
| Nov:94 | 15.69% | 15.77% | 7.54% | 7.62% | 3.30% | 5.60% | 3.13% |
| Feb:95 | 16.10% | 15.28% | 7.10% | 6.28% | 3.48% | 5.40% | 2.94% |
| May:95 | 16.14% | 16.26% | 7.14% | 7.26% | 3.57% | 5.60% | 3.33% |
| Aug:95 | 15.92% | 15.90% | 7.17% | 7.15% | 3.90% | 5.70% | 3.63% |
| Nov:95 | 15.81% | 15.74% | 7.06% | 6.99% | 3.99% | 5.60% | 4.01% |
| Feb:96 | 15.80% | 15.42% | 7.55% | 7.17% | 4.04% | 5.50% | 4.21% |
| May:96 | 15.44% | 15.33% | 7.19% | 7.08% | 4.12% | 5.60% | 4.53% |
| Aug:96 | 15.66% | 15.66% | 7.41% | 7.41% | 4.53% | 5.10% | 4.45% |
| Nov:96 | 15.62% | 15.52% | 7.37% | 7.27% | 4.68% | 5.40% | 4.73% |
| Feb:97 | 15.88% | 15.15% | 7.63% | 6.90% | 4.67% | 5.20% | 4.92% |
| May:97 | 15.74% | 15.72% | 7.24% | 7.22% | 4.55% | 4.90% | 5.40% |
| Aug:97 | 15.80% | 15.79% | 7.30% | 7.29% | 4.77% | 4.80% | 5.38% |
| Nov:97 | 15.76% | 15.74% | 7.26% | 7.24% | 4.90% | 4.60% | 5.60% |
| Feb:98 | 15.68% | 15.34% | 7.18% | 6.84% | 4.72% | 4.60% | 5.26% |
| May:98 | 15.65% | 15.70% | 7.15% | 7.20% | 4.56% | 4.40% | 5.08% |
| Aug:98 | 15.82% | 15.84% | 7.32% | 7.34% | 4.80% | 4.50% | 5.24% |
| Nov:98 | 15.67% | 15.73% | 7.78% | 7.84% | 4.82% | 4.40% | 5.30% |
| Feb:99 | 15.39% | 14.73% | 7.64% | 6.98% | 4.61% | 4.40% | 5.04% |
| May:99 | 15.19% | 14.94% | 7.44% | 7.19% | 4.29% | 4.20% | 4.38% |
| Aug:99 | 15.07% | 14.80% | 7.01% | 6.74% | 4.64% | 4.20% | 4.40% |
| Nov:99 | 15.12% | 14.78% | 6.75% | 6.41% | 4.63% | 4.10% | 4.64% |
| Feb:00 | 15.55% | 14.30% | 6.82% | 5.57% | 4.35% | 4.10% | 4.62% |
| May:00 | 15.60% | 14.76% | 6.36% | 5.52% | 4.32% | 4.00% | 4.24% |
| Aug:00 | 15.98% | 15.37% | 6.48% | 5.87% | 4.62% | 4.10% | 4.29% |
| Nov:00 | 15.99% | 15.26% | 6.49% | 5.76% | 4.70% | 3.90% | 4.70% |
| Feb:01 | 15.63% | 14.63% | 7.13% | 6.13% | 4.75% | 4.20% | 4.77% |
| May:01 | 15.06% | 14.65% | 7.82% | 7.41% | 4.75% | 4.30% | 5.24% |
| Aug:01 | 14.59% | 14.67% | 7.92% | 8.00% | 5.09% | 5.00% | 5.25% |
| Nov:01 | 14.21% | 13.90% | 9.11% | 8.80% | 4.86% | 5.50% | 6.43% |
| Feb:02 | 13.62% | 13.00% | 8.87% | 8.25% | 4.85% | 5.70% | 7.85% |
| May:02 | 13.53% | 13.36% | 8.78% | 8.61% | 4.61% | 5.80% | 6.27% |
| Aug:02 | 13.36% | 13.29% | 8.61% | 8.54% | 4.96% | 5.70% | 5.94% |
| Nov:02 | 13.11% | 12.78% | 8.76% | 8.43% | 5.05% | 5.90% | 5.63% |
| Feb:03 | 12.26% | 11.96% | 8.01% | 7.71% | 4.57% | 5.90% | 5.77% |
| May:03 | 12.12% | 12.89% | 7.87% | 8.64% | 4.38% | 6.10% | 6.11% |
| Aug:03 | 12.47% | 13.13% | 8.47% | 9.13% | 4.29% | 6.10% | 5.40% |
| Nov:03 | 12.35% | 12.93% | 8.35% | 8.93% | 4.62% | 5.80% | 6.07% |
| Feb:04 | 12.67% | 12.42% | 8.67% | 8.42% | 4.10% | 5.60% | 5.38% |
| May:04 | 12.69% | 12.93% | 8.69% | 8.93% | 4.02% | 5.60% | 5.39% |
| Aug:04 | 13.02% | 13.60% | 8.59% | 9.17% | 4.12% | 5.40% | 4.67% |
| Nov:04 | 12.51% | 13.92% | 7.58% | 8.99% | 4.20% | 5.40% | 4.71% |
| Feb:05 | 12.21% | 14.13% | 6.72% | 8.64% | 3.62% | 5.40% | 4.63% |
| May:05 | 12.77% | 14.81% | 6.79% | 8.83% | 3.56% | 5.10% | 4.35% |
| Aug:05 | 12.48% | 14.75% | 6.04% | 8.31% | 3.95% | 4.90% | 4.33% |
| Nov:05 | 12.58% | 14.49% | 5.58% | 7.49% | 3.65% | 5.00% | 6.05% |
| Feb:06 | 13.30% | 14.38% | 5.80% | 6.88% | 3.80% | 4.80% | 3.13% |
| May:06 | 13.16% | 14.77% | 5.23% | 6.84% | 4.01% | 4.60% | 3.52% |
| Aug:06 | 13.06% | 14.67% | 4.81% | 6.42% | 4.17% | 4.70% | 3.87% |
| Nov:06 | 13.31% | 15.09% | 5.06% | 6.84% | 4.05% | 4.50% | 4.03% |
| Feb:07 | 13.41% | 14.64% | 5.16% | 6.39% | 3.96% | 4.50% | 3.93% |
| May:07 | 13.46% | 14.47% | 5.21% | 6.22% | 3.90% | 4.40% | 3.85% |
| Aug:07 | 13.59% | 15.24% | 5.34% | 6.99% | 4.45% | 4.60% | 4.05% |
| Nov:07 | 12.75% | 14.38% | 5.25% | 6.88% | 4.68% | 4.70% | 4.15% |
| Feb:08 | 12.47% | 13.77% | 6.47% | 7.77% | 4.80% | 4.80% | 4.70% |
| May:08 | 11.88% | 13.51% | 6.88% | 8.51% | 4.74% | 5.40% | 5.47% |
| Aug:08 | 11.94% | 13.64% | 6.94% | 8.64% | 4.83% | 6.10% | 5.62% |
| Nov:08 | 12.03% | 13.36% | 8.03% | 9.36% | 5.72% | 6.80% | 6.30% |
| Feb:09 | 12.97% | 13.54% | 9.72% | 10.29% | 6.61% | 8.20% | 7.62% |
| May:09 | 13.32% | 14.43% | 10.07% | 11.18% | 6.53% | 9.40% | 9.77% |
| Aug:09 | 13.71% | 14.90% | 10.46% | 11.65% | 6.51% | 9.70% | 10.10% |
| Nov:09 | 13.60% | 14.37% | 10.35% | 11.12% | 6.43% | 9.90% | 10.12% |
| Feb:10 | 14.26% | 14.67% | 11.01% | 11.42% | 5.88% | 9.70% | 10.16% |
| May:10 | 13.84% | 14.48% | 10.59% | 11.23% | 4.90% | 9.60% | 10.97% |
| Aug:10 | 13.59% | 14.22% | 10.34% | 10.97% | 4.59% | 9.60% | 8.55% |
| Nov:10 | 13.44% | 13.67% | 10.19% | 10.42% | 4.22% | 9.80% | 7.70% |
| Feb:11 | 13.43% | 13.44% | 10.18% | 10.19% | 3.89% | 9.00% | 6.96% |
| May:11 | 12.89% | 13.06% | 9.64% | 9.81% | 3.50% | 9.00% | 5.58% |
| Aug:11 | 12.28% | 13.08% | 9.03% | 9.83% | 3.47% | 9.10% | 5.63% |
| Nov:11 | 12.36% | 12.78% | 9.11% | 9.53% | 3.32% | 8.70% | 4.53% |
| Feb:12 | 12.34% | 13.04% | 9.09% | 9.79% | 3.11% | 8.30% | 4.29% |
| May:12 | 12.06% | 12.76% | 8.81% | 9.51% | 2.79% | 8.20% | 4.15% |
| Aug:12 | 11.95% | 13.21% | 8.70% | 9.98% | 2.84% | 8.10% | 3.74% |
| Nov:12 | 11.88% | 12.81% | 8.63% | 9.56% | 2.78% | 7.80% | 3.78% |
| Feb:13 | 11.93% | 13.01% | 8.68% | 9.76% | 2.67% | 7.70% | 3.78% |
| May:13 | 11.95% | 12.76% | 8.45% | 9.26% | 2.41% | 7.60% | 3.62% |
| Aug:13 | 11.88% | 13.11% | 8.38% | 9.61% | 2.47% | 7.20% | 3.19% |
| Nov:13 | 11.85% | 12.89% | 8.35% | 9.39% | 2.45% | 7.00% | 3.33% |
| Feb:14 | 11.83% | 13.14% | 8.58% | 9.89% | 2.33% | 6.70% | 3.32% |
| May:14 | 11.83% | 12.74% | 8.58% | 9.49% | 2.15% | 6.30% | 3.45% |
| Aug:14 | 11.82% | 13.18% | 8.57% | 9.93% | 2.23% | 6.10% | 2.89% |
| Nov:14 | 11.99% | 13.68% | 8.74% | 10.43% | 2.22% | 5.80% | 2.98% |
| Feb:15 | 11.98% | 13.53% | 8.73% | 10.28% | 2.13% | 5.50% | 3.03% |
| May:15 | 12.04% | 13.49% | 8.79% | 10.24% | 2.01% | 5.50% | 3.03% |
| Aug:15 | 12.10% | 13.93% | 8.85% | 10.68% | 2.18% | 5.10% | 2.76% |
| Nov:15 | 12.22% | 13.70% | 8.97% | 10.45% | 2.23% | 5.00% | 2.91% |
| Feb:16 | 12.31% | 13.51% | 8.81% | 10.01% | 2.16% | 4.90% | 3.16% |
| May:16 | 12.16% | 13.35% | 8.66% | 9.85% | 2.09% | 4.70% | 3.13% |
| Aug:16 | 12.51% | 13.76% | 9.01% | 10.26% | 2.33% | 4.90% | 2.86% |
| Nov:16 | 12.41% | 13.61% | 8.91% | 10.11% | 2.44% | 4.60% | 3.45% |
| Feb:17 | 12.54% | 13.86% | 8.79% | 10.11% | 2.42% | 4.70% | 3.59% |
| May:17 | 12.77% | 14.00% | 8.77% | 10.00% | 2.35% | 4.30% | 3.64% |
| Aug:17 | 13.08% | 14.89% | 8.83% | 10.64% | 2.57% | 4.40% | 3.37% |
| Nov:17 | 13.16% | 14.99% | 8.91% | 10.74% | 2.56% | 4.10% | 3.63% |
| Feb:18 | 13.63% | 15.32% | 9.13% | 10.82% | 2.54% | 4.10% | 3.80% |
| May:18 | 14.14% | 15.54% | 9.39% | 10.79% | 2.35% | 3.80% | 3.74% |
| Aug:18 | 14.38% | 16.46% | 9.38% | 11.46% | 2.54% | 3.80% | 3.46% |
| Nov:18 | 14.73% | 16.86% | 9.48% | 11.61% | 2.63% | 3.70% | 3.57% |
| Feb:19 | 15.09% | 16.91% | 9.59% | 11.41% | 2.59% | 3.80% | 3.83% |
| May:19 | 15.13% | 17.14% | 9.63% | 11.64% | 2.42% | 3.60% | 3.83% |
| Aug:19 | 15.1% | 16.97% | 9.85% | 11.72% | 2.62 | 3.70% | 3.49% |
| Nov:19 | 14.87% | 16.88% | 10.12% | 12.13% | N/A | 3.50% | N/A |
- The 10-year average delinquency rate is 2.99% (August 2009 to August 2019)
- The 20-year average delinquency rate is 3.76% (August 1999 to August 2019)
(Sources: Federal Reserve, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, WalletHub.com)
Was this article helpful?
Awesome! Thanks for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.
{{#children_count_more}}
·
{{/children_count_more}}
·
{{#comment_flag_url}}
·
{{/comment_flag_url}}
