Average Credit Card Interest Rates:
- All Credit Card Accounts: 21.47%
- All Credit Card Accounts with Finance Charges: 22.75%
- Prime Rate: 8.50%
- Delinquency Rate: 3.20%
- Charge-Off Rate: 4.07%
- Unemployment Rate: 3.70%
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, Charge-Off Rates & More
Historical Credit Card Interest Rates Chart
The margin between the prime rate and the average credit card interest rate has increased by 9.46 percentage points since May 2000, reaching a peak of 14.27% in May 2023.
Historical Credit Card Charge-Off Rate, Delinquency Rate & Unemployment Rate
The 10-year average delinquency rate from November 2013 to November 2023 is 2.30%, while the 10-year average charge-off rate for the same period is 3.14%
Note: The data for delinquency rates reflects payments that are 30+ days overdue.
Raw Data for Historical Credit Card Interest Rates
Date | Avg. Interest Rate of All Credit Card Accounts | Avg. Assessed Interest Rate of Accounts with Finance Charges | Prime Rate | Interest Rate Margin of All Credit Card Accounts | Interest Rate Margin of Accounts with Finance Charges |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nov:23 | 21.47% | 22.75% | 8.50% | 12.97% | 14.25% |
Aug:23 | 21.19% | 22.77% | 8.50% | 12.69% | 14.27% |
May:23 | 20.68% | 22.16% | 8.23% | 12.45% | 13.93% |
Feb:23 | 20.09% | 20.92% | 7.75% | 12.34% | 13.17% |
Nov:22 | 19.07% | 20.40% | 6.95% | 12.12% | 13.45% |
Aug:22 | 16.27% | 18.43% | 5.50% | 10.77% | 12.93% |
May:22 | 15.13% | 16.65% | 3.94% | 11.19% | 12.71% |
Feb:22 | 14.56% | 16.17% | 3.25% | 11.31% | 12.92% |
Nov:21 | 14.51% | 16.44% | 3.25% | 11.26% | 13.19% |
Aug:21 | 14.54% | 17.13% | 3.25% | 11.29% | 13.88% |
May:21 | 14.61% | 16.30% | 3.25% | 11.36% | 13.05% |
Feb:21 | 14.75% | 15.91% | 3.25% | 11.50% | 12.66% |
Nov:20 | 14.65% | 16.28% | 3.25% | 11.40% | 13.03% |
Aug:20 | 14.58% | 16.43% | 3.25% | 11.33% | 13.18% |
May:20 | 14.52% | 15.78% | 3.25% | 11.27% | 12.53% |
Feb:20 | 15.09% | 16.61% | 4.75% | 10.34% | 11.86% |
Nov:19 | 14.87% | 16.88% | 4.75% | 10.12% | 12.13% |
Aug:19 | 15.10% | 16.97% | 5.25% | 9.85% | 11.72% |
May:19 | 15.13% | 17.14% | 5.50% | 9.63% | 11.64% |
Feb:19 | 15.09% | 16.91% | 5.50% | 9.59% | 11.41% |
Nov:18 | 14.73% | 16.86% | 5.25% | 9.48% | 11.61% |
Aug: 18 | 14.18% | 16.46% | 5.00% | 9.18% | 11.46% |
May:18 | 14.14% | 15.54% | 4.75% | 9.39% | 10.79% |
Feb:18 | 13.63% | 15.32% | 4.50% | 9.13% | 10.82% |
Nov:17 | 13.16% | 14.99% | 4.25% | 8.91% | 10.74% |
Aug: 17 | 13.08% | 14.89% | 4.25% | 8.83% | 10.64% |
May: 17 | 12.77% | 14.00% | 4.00% | 8.77% | 10.00% |
Feb:17 | 12.54% | 13.86% | 3.75% | 8.79% | 10.11% |
Nov:16 | 12.41% | 13.61% | 3.50% | 8.91% | 10.11% |
Aug:16 | 12.51% | 13.76% | 3.50% | 9.01% | 10.26% |
May:16 | 12.16% | 13.35% | 3.50% | 8.66% | 9.85% |
Feb:16 | 12.31% | 13.51% | 3.50% | 8.81% | 10.01% |
Nov:15 | 12.22% | 13.70% | 3.25% | 8.97% | 10.45% |
Aug:15 | 12.10% | 13.93% | 3.25% | 8.85% | 10.68% |
May:15 | 12.04% | 13.49% | 3.25% | 8.79% | 10.24% |
Feb:15 | 11.98% | 13.53% | 3.25% | 8.73% | 10.28% |
Nov:14 | 11.99% | 13.68% | 3.25% | 8.74% | 10.43% |
Aug:14 | 11.82% | 13.18% | 3.25% | 8.57% | 9.93% |
May:14 | 11.83% | 12.74% | 3.25% | 8.58% | 9.49% |
Feb:14 | 11.83% | 13.14% | 3.25% | 8.58% | 9.89% |
Nov:13 | 11.85% | 12.89% | 3.50% | 8.35% | 9.39% |
Aug:13 | 11.88% | 13.11% | 3.50% | 8.38% | 9.61% |
May:13 | 11.95% | 12.76% | 3.50% | 8.45% | 9.26% |
Feb:13 | 11.93% | 13.01% | 3.25% | 8.68% | 9.76% |
Nov:12 | 11.88% | 12.81% | 3.25% | 8.63% | 9.56% |
Aug:12 | 11.95% | 13.21% | 3.25% | 8.70% | 9.98% |
May:12 | 12.06% | 12.76% | 3.25% | 8.81% | 9.51% |
Feb:12 | 12.34% | 13.04% | 3.25% | 9.09% | 9.79% |
Nov:11 | 12.36% | 12.78% | 3.25% | 9.11% | 9.53% |
Aug:11 | 12.28% | 13.08% | 3.25% | 9.03% | 9.83% |
May:11 | 12.89% | 13.06% | 3.25% | 9.64% | 9.81% |
Feb:11 | 13.43% | 13.44% | 3.25% | 10.18% | 10.19% |
Nov:10 | 13.44% | 13.67% | 3.25% | 10.19% | 10.42% |
Aug:10 | 13.59% | 14.22% | 3.25% | 10.34% | 10.97% |
May:10 | 13.84% | 14.48% | 3.25% | 10.59% | 11.23% |
Feb:10 | 14.26% | 14.67% | 3.25% | 11.01% | 11.42% |
Nov:09 | 13.60% | 14.37% | 3.25% | 10.35% | 11.12% |
Aug:09 | 13.71% | 14.90% | 3.25% | 10.46% | 11.65% |
May:09 | 13.32% | 14.43% | 3.25% | 10.07% | 11.18% |
Feb:09 | 12.97% | 13.54% | 3.25% | 9.72% | 10.29% |
Nov:08 | 12.03% | 13.36% | 4.00% | 8.03% | 9.36% |
Aug:08 | 11.94% | 13.64% | 5.00% | 6.94% | 8.64% |
May:08 | 11.88% | 13.51% | 5.00% | 6.88% | 8.51% |
Feb:08 | 12.47% | 13.77% | 6.00% | 6.47% | 7.77% |
Nov:07 | 12.75% | 14.38% | 7.50% | 5.25% | 6.88% |
Aug:07 | 13.59% | 15.24% | 8.25% | 5.34% | 6.99% |
May:07 | 13.46% | 14.47% | 8.25% | 5.21% | 6.22% |
Feb:07 | 13.41% | 14.64% | 8.25% | 5.16% | 6.39% |
Nov:06 | 13.31% | 15.09% | 8.25% | 5.06% | 6.84% |
Aug:06 | 13.06% | 14.67% | 8.25% | 4.81% | 6.42% |
May:06 | 13.16% | 14.77% | 7.93% | 5.23% | 6.84% |
Feb:06 | 13.30% | 14.38% | 7.50% | 5.80% | 6.88% |
Nov:05 | 12.58% | 14.49% | 7.00% | 5.58% | 7.49% |
Aug:05 | 12.48% | 14.75% | 6.44% | 6.04% | 8.31% |
May:05 | 12.77% | 14.81% | 5.98% | 6.79% | 8.83% |
Feb:05 | 12.21% | 14.13% | 5.49% | 6.72% | 8.64% |
Nov:04 | 12.51% | 13.92% | 4.93% | 7.58% | 8.99% |
Aug:04 | 13.02% | 13.60% | 4.43% | 8.59% | 9.17% |
May:04 | 12.69% | 12.93% | 4.00% | 8.69% | 8.93% |
Feb:04 | 12.67% | 12.42% | 4.00% | 8.67% | 8.42% |
Nov:03 | 12.35% | 12.93% | 4.00% | 8.35% | 8.93% |
Aug:03 | 12.47% | 13.13% | 4.00% | 8.47% | 9.13% |
May:03 | 12.12% | 12.89% | 4.25% | 7.87% | 8.64% |
Feb:03 | 12.26% | 11.96% | 4.25% | 8.01% | 7.71% |
Nov:02 | 13.11% | 12.78% | 4.35% | 8.76% | 8.43% |
Aug:02 | 13.36% | 13.29% | 4.75% | 8.61% | 8.54% |
May:02 | 13.53% | 13.36% | 4.75% | 8.78% | 8.61% |
Feb:02 | 13.62% | 13.00% | 4.75% | 8.87% | 8.25% |
Nov:01 | 14.21% | 13.90% | 5.10% | 9.11% | 8.80% |
Aug:01 | 14.59% | 14.67% | 6.67% | 7.92% | 8.00% |
May:01 | 15.06% | 14.65% | 7.24% | 7.82% | 7.41% |
Feb:01 | 15.63% | 14.63% | 8.50% | 7.13% | 6.13% |
Nov:00 | 15.99% | 15.26% | 9.50% | 6.49% | 5.76% |
Aug:00 | 15.98% | 15.37% | 9.50% | 6.48% | 5.87% |
May:00 | 15.60% | 14.76% | 9.24% | 6.36% | 5.52% |
Feb:00 | 15.55% | 14.30% | 8.73% | 6.82% | 5.57% |
Nov:99 | 15.12% | 14.78% | 8.37% | 6.75% | 6.41% |
Aug:99 | 15.07% | 14.80% | 8.06% | 7.01% | 6.74% |
May:99 | 15.19% | 14.94% | 7.75% | 7.44% | 7.19% |
Feb:99 | 15.39% | 14.73% | 7.75% | 7.64% | 6.98% |
Nov:98 | 15.67% | 15.73% | 7.89% | 7.78% | 7.84% |
Aug:98 | 15.82% | 15.84% | 8.50% | 7.32% | 7.34% |
May:98 | 15.65% | 15.70% | 8.50% | 7.15% | 7.20% |
Feb:98 | 15.68% | 15.34% | 8.50% | 7.18% | 6.84% |
Nov:97 | 15.76% | 15.74% | 8.50% | 7.26% | 7.24% |
Aug:97 | 15.80% | 15.79% | 8.50% | 7.30% | 7.29% |
May:97 | 15.74% | 15.72% | 8.50% | 7.24% | 7.22% |
Feb:97 | 15.88% | 15.15% | 8.25% | 7.63% | 6.90% |
Nov:96 | 15.62% | 15.52% | 8.25% | 7.37% | 7.27% |
Aug:96 | 15.66% | 15.66% | 8.25% | 7.41% | 7.41% |
May:96 | 15.44% | 15.33% | 8.25% | 7.19% | 7.08% |
Feb:96 | 15.80% | 15.42% | 8.25% | 7.55% | 7.17% |
Nov:95 | 15.81% | 15.74% | 8.75% | 7.06% | 6.99% |
Aug:95 | 15.92% | 15.90% | 8.75% | 7.17% | 7.15% |
May:95 | 16.14% | 16.26% | 9.00% | 7.14% | 7.26% |
Feb:95 | 16.10% | 15.28% | 9.00% | 7.10% | 6.28% |
Nov:94 | 15.69% | 15.77% | 8.15% | 7.54% | 7.62% |
Aug:94 | 16.32% | N/A | 7.75% | 8.81% | N/A |
May:94 | 16.15% | N/A | 6.99% | 9.16% | N/A |
Feb:94 | 16.09% | N/A | 6% | 10.09% | N/A |
Nov:93 | 16.31% | N/A | 6% | 10.31% | N/A |
Aug:93 | 16.59% | N/A | 6% | 10.59% | N/A |
May:93 | 17.18% | N/A | 6% | 11.18% | N/A |
Feb:93 | 17.23% | N/A | 6% | 11.23% | N/A |
Nov:92 | 17.36% | N/A | 6% | 11.36% | N/A |
Aug:92 | 17.68% | N/A | 6% | 11.68% | N/A |
May:92 | 17.98% | N/A | 6.5% | 11.48% | N/A |
Feb:92 | 18.1% | N/A | 6.5% | 11.6% | N/A |
Nov:91 | 18.2% | N/A | 7.58% | 10.62% | N/A |
Aug:91 | 18.25% | N/A | 8.5% | 9.75% | N/A |
May:91 | 18.22% | N/A | 8.5% | 9.72% | N/A |
Feb:91 | 18.28% | N/A | 9.05% | 9.23% | N/A |
Raw Data for Historical Credit Card Delinquency Rate and Charge-Off Rate
Date | Credit Card Delinquency Rate | Charge-Off Rate |
---|---|---|
Nov:23 | 3.20% | 4.07% |
Aug:23 | 2.97% | 3.49% |
May:23 | 2.58% | 3.38% |
Feb:23 | 2.53% | 3.02% |
Nov:22 | 2.34% | 2.44% |
Aug:22 | 2.07% | 1.94% |
May:22 | 1.71% | 1.97% |
Feb:22 | 1.73% | 1.82% |
Nov:21 | 1.63% | 1.57% |
Aug:21 | 1.54% | 1.67% |
May:21 | 1.48% | 2.54% |
Feb:21 | 1.93% | 2.95% |
Nov:20 | 2.18% | 2.53% |
Aug:20 | 2.00% | 3.34% |
May:20 | 2.28% | 4.04% |
Feb:20 | 2.76% | 3.91% |
Nov:19 | 2.70% | 3.65% |
Aug:19 | 2.62% | 3.49% |
May:19 | 2.42% | 3.83% |
Feb:19 | 2.59% | 3.83% |
Nov:18 | 2.63% | 3.57% |
Aug: 18 | 2.54% | 3.46% |
May:18 | 2.35% | 3.74% |
Feb:18 | 2.54% | 3.80% |
Nov:17 | 2.56% | 3.63% |
Aug: 17 | 2.57% | 3.37% |
May: 17 | 2.35% | 3.64% |
Feb:17 | 2.42% | 3.59% |
Nov:16 | 2.44% | 3.45% |
Aug:16 | 2.33% | 2.86% |
May:16 | 2.09% | 3.13% |
Feb:16 | 2.16% | 3.16% |
Nov:15 | 2.23% | 2.91% |
Aug:15 | 2.18% | 2.76% |
May:15 | 2.01% | 3.03% |
Feb:15 | 2.13% | 3.03% |
Nov:14 | 2.22% | 2.98% |
Aug:14 | 2.23% | 2.89% |
May:14 | 2.15% | 3.45% |
Feb:14 | 2.33% | 3.32% |
Nov:13 | 2.45% | 3.33% |
Aug:13 | 2.47% | 3.19% |
May:13 | 2.41% | 3.62% |
Feb:13 | 2.67% | 3.78% |
Nov:12 | 2.78% | 3.78% |
Aug:12 | 2.84% | 3.74% |
May:12 | 2.79% | 4.15% |
Feb:12 | 3.11% | 4.29% |
Nov:11 | 3.32% | 4.53% |
Aug:11 | 3.47% | 5.63% |
May:11 | 3.50% | 5.58% |
Feb:11 | 3.89% | 6.96% |
Nov:10 | 4.22% | 7.70% |
Aug:10 | 4.59% | 8.55% |
May:10 | 4.90% | 10.97% |
Feb:10 | 5.88% | 10.16% |
Nov:09 | 6.43% | 10.12% |
Aug:09 | 6.51% | 10.10% |
May:09 | 6.53% | 9.77% |
Feb:09 | 6.61% | 7.62% |
Nov:08 | 5.72% | 6.30% |
Aug:08 | 4.83% | 5.62% |
May:08 | 4.74% | 5.47% |
Feb:08 | 4.80% | 4.70% |
Nov:07 | 4.68% | 4.15% |
Aug:07 | 4.45% | 4.05% |
May:07 | 3.90% | 3.85% |
Feb:07 | 3.96% | 3.93% |
Nov:06 | 4.05% | 4.03% |
Aug:06 | 4.17% | 3.87% |
May:06 | 4.01% | 3.52% |
Feb:06 | 3.80% | 3.13% |
Nov:05 | 3.65% | 6.05% |
Aug:05 | 3.95% | 4.33% |
May:05 | 3.56% | 4.35% |
Feb:05 | 3.62% | 4.63% |
Nov:04 | 4.20% | 4.71% |
Aug:04 | 4.12% | 4.67% |
May:04 | 4.02% | 5.39% |
Feb:04 | 4.10% | 5.38% |
Nov:03 | 4.62% | 6.07% |
Aug:03 | 4.29% | 5.40% |
May:03 | 4.38% | 6.11% |
Feb:03 | 4.57% | 5.77% |
Nov:02 | 5.05% | 5.63% |
Aug:02 | 4.96% | 5.94% |
May:02 | 4.61% | 6.27% |
Feb:02 | 4.85% | 7.85% |
Nov:01 | 4.86% | 6.43% |
Aug:01 | 5.09% | 5.25% |
May:01 | 4.75% | 5.24% |
Feb:01 | 4.75% | 4.77% |
Nov:00 | 4.70% | 4.70% |
Aug:00 | 4.62% | 4.29% |
May:00 | 4.32% | 4.24% |
Feb:00 | 4.35% | 4.62% |
Nov:99 | 4.63% | 4.64% |
Aug:99 | 4.64% | 4.40% |
May:99 | 4.29% | 4.38% |
Feb:99 | 4.61% | 5.04% |
Nov:98 | 4.82% | 5.30% |
Aug:98 | 4.80% | 5.24% |
May:98 | 4.56% | 5.08% |
Feb:98 | 4.72% | 5.26% |
Nov:97 | 4.90% | 5.60% |
Aug:97 | 4.77% | 5.38% |
May:97 | 4.55% | 5.40% |
Feb:97 | 4.67% | 4.92% |
Nov:96 | 4.68% | 4.73% |
Aug:96 | 4.53% | 4.45% |
May:96 | 4.12% | 4.53% |
Feb:96 | 4.04% | 4.21% |
Nov:95 | 3.99% | 4.01% |
Aug:95 | 3.90% | 3.63% |
May:95 | 3.57% | 3.33% |
Feb:95 | 3.48% | 2.94% |
Nov:94 | 3.30% | 3.13% |
Aug:94 | 3.29% | 2.92% |
May:94 | 3.18% | 3.06% |
Feb:94 | 3.62% | 3.29% |
Nov:93 | 3.91% | 3.39% |
Aug:93 | 4.14% | 3.58% |
May:93 | 4.33% | 3.90% |
Feb:93 | 4.63% | 4.09% |
Nov:92 | 4.70% | 4.58% |
Aug:92 | 5.04% | 4.32% |
May:92 | 4.96% | 4.93% |
Feb:92 | 5.31% | 4.91% |
Nov:91 | 5.30% | 4.69% |
Aug:91 | 5.41% | 4.75% |
May:91 | 5.32% | 4.68% |
Feb:91 | 5.29% | 4.18% |
Note: The data for delinquency rates reflects payments that are 30+ days overdue.
Raw Data for Historical Unemployment Rate
Date | Unemployment Rate |
---|---|
Nov:23 | 3.70% |
Aug:23 | 3.80% |
May:23 | 3.70% |
Feb:23 | 3.60% |
Nov:22 | 3.60% |
Aug:22 | 3.70% |
May:22 | 3.60% |
Feb:22 | 3.80% |
Nov:21 | 4.20% |
Aug:21 | 5.20% |
May:21 | 5.80% |
Feb:21 | 6.20% |
Nov:20 | 6.70% |
Aug:20 | 8.40% |
May:20 | 13.30% |
Feb:20 | 3.50% |
Nov:19 | 3.50% |
Aug:19 | 3.70% |
May:19 | 3.60% |
Feb:19 | 3.80% |
Nov:18 | 3.70% |
Aug: 18 | 3.80% |
May:18 | 3.80% |
Feb:18 | 4.10% |
Nov:17 | 4.10% |
Aug: 17 | 4.40% |
May: 17 | 4.30% |
Feb:17 | 4.70% |
Nov:16 | 4.60% |
Aug:16 | 4.90% |
May:16 | 4.70% |
Feb:16 | 4.90% |
Nov:15 | 5.00% |
Aug:15 | 5.10% |
May:15 | 5.50% |
Feb:15 | 5.50% |
Nov:14 | 5.80% |
Aug:14 | 6.10% |
May:14 | 6.30% |
Feb:14 | 6.70% |
Nov:13 | 7.00% |
Aug:13 | 7.20% |
May:13 | 7.60% |
Feb:13 | 7.70% |
Nov:12 | 7.80% |
Aug:12 | 8.10% |
May:12 | 8.20% |
Feb:12 | 8.30% |
Nov:11 | 8.70% |
Aug:11 | 9.10% |
May:11 | 9.00% |
Feb:11 | 9.00% |
Nov:10 | 9.80% |
Aug:10 | 9.60% |
May:10 | 9.60% |
Feb:10 | 9.70% |
Nov:09 | 9.90% |
Aug:09 | 9.70% |
May:09 | 9.40% |
Feb:09 | 8.20% |
Nov:08 | 6.80% |
Aug:08 | 6.10% |
May:08 | 5.40% |
Feb:08 | 4.80% |
Nov:07 | 4.70% |
Aug:07 | 4.60% |
May:07 | 4.40% |
Feb:07 | 4.50% |
Nov:06 | 4.50% |
Aug:06 | 4.70% |
May:06 | 4.60% |
Feb:06 | 4.80% |
Nov:05 | 5.00% |
Aug:05 | 4.90% |
May:05 | 5.10% |
Feb:05 | 5.40% |
Nov:04 | 5.40% |
Aug:04 | 5.40% |
May:04 | 5.60% |
Feb:04 | 5.60% |
Nov:03 | 5.80% |
Aug:03 | 6.10% |
May:03 | 6.10% |
Feb:03 | 5.90% |
Nov:02 | 5.90% |
Aug:02 | 5.70% |
May:02 | 5.80% |
Feb:02 | 5.70% |
Nov:01 | 5.50% |
Aug:01 | 5.00% |
May:01 | 4.30% |
Feb:01 | 4.20% |
Nov:00 | 3.90% |
Aug:00 | 4.10% |
May:00 | 4.00% |
Feb:00 | 4.10% |
Nov:99 | 4.10% |
Aug:99 | 4.20% |
May:99 | 4.20% |
Feb:99 | 4.40% |
Nov:98 | 4.40% |
Aug:98 | 4.50% |
May:98 | 4.40% |
Feb:98 | 4.60% |
Nov:97 | 4.60% |
Aug:97 | 4.80% |
May:97 | 4.90% |
Feb:97 | 5.20% |
Nov:96 | 5.40% |
Aug:96 | 5.10% |
May:96 | 5.60% |
Feb:96 | 5.50% |
Nov:95 | 5.60% |
Aug:95 | 5.70% |
May:95 | 5.60% |
Feb:95 | 5.40% |
Nov:94 | 5.60% |
Aug:94 | 6.00% |
May:94 | 6.10% |
Feb:94 | 6.60% |
Nov:93 | 6.60% |
Aug:93 | 6.80% |
May:93 | 7.10% |
Feb:93 | 7.10% |
Nov:92 | 7.40% |
Aug:92 | 7.60% |
May:92 | 7.60% |
Feb:92 | 7.40% |
Nov:91 | 7.00% |
Aug:91 | 6.90% |
May:91 | 6.90% |
Feb:91 | 6.60% |
(Sources: Federal Reserve, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, WalletHub.com)
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