delinquencies

The rate of late payments for auto loans dropped further in the second quarter of the year, helped by low interest rates and improved car sales.

The average U.S. credit score is the highest in at least four years.

Delinquencies on consumer loans have dropped 30 percent in two years. Improving credit quality gives households the ability to spend more.

Fannie Mae said Thursday the rate for single-family home loans behind in payments by at least 90 days dipped slightly between February and March.

But the rate of serious delinquencies for mortgages on apartment buildings worsened.

More people were late with their auto loan payments in the third quarter as job losses continued, but amid rising delinquencies there are positive signs for the economy in certain states.

Unemployment and the housing slump drove credit payment delinquencies to the highest on record.

Credit card delinquency figures bring to mind the rock classic "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." Ever after today's record report - delinquencies jumped to 6.6 percent of all card debt in the first quarter from 5.52 percent - the peak may still be far off.

A banking group says consumer loan delinquencies rose to another record high in the first quarter.

Obama's plan to revamp financial regulation aims to protect borrowers from the confusing and high-risk mortgages that fed a pandemic of delinquencies and foreclosures.