Vital Signs Chart: Americans Add to Credit-Card Debt

By Conor Dougherty

Revolving credit increased in August, suggesting consumers are feeling better about borrowing to spend on bigger purchases. Revolving credit, which includes credit-card debt, rose $4.2 billion, or 5.9%, to $854.91 billion in August from a month earlier. Previously released data showed that retail sales posted their biggest rise in six months in August, while consumer confidence strengthened in September.