Equifax's latestNational Credit Trends Reportshows that Total consumer debt now stands at$11.2 trillion, nearly equivalent to the$11.1 trillionposted pre-recession in 2006 according to the most recentEquifaxNational Credit Trends Report.Consumer debt outstanding peaked inOctober 2008at$12.4 trillion.

In addition the report reveals:

• $436 billionof total new credit (which includes auto loans, bank credit cards, consumer finance loans, home equity lines*, retail credit cards and student loans) was originated between January –July 2011. This represents the highest total for that period in 3 years, but is still well below the$805 billionin new credit originated between January –July 2006.

• While total outstanding debt continues to decrease, consumers are beginning to utilize bank credit cards and retail credit cards more, with both sectors seeing balance increases over the past four months (June –September 2011), following four previous months of balance decline (February –May 2011).

• For all tracked sectors, loans originated between 2005 – 2007 present the biggest challenge in terms of ongoing delinquencies as they represent 31% of total balances, but 65% of all past due (30-plus days) balances. This is particularly true for first mortgage and home equity loans originated during this timeframe as 74% of first mortgage loan delinquencies and 80% of home equity revolving loan delinquencies were originated during this time.

"The impact of 2005-2007 vintage loans continues to be felt across multiple lending sectors," saidMichael Koukounas, Senior Vice President of Special Client Services for Equifax. "More than two-thirds of delinquent loans can be sourced to those originated during that time. In contrast, loans originated after 2008 are performing substantially better due to the tighter underwriting guidelines in place since then."

Additional Key Findings Include:

Auto

Auto lending has performed consistently well this year versus 2010, with 11.3 million new loans originated between January –July 2011(a more than 13% increase over January –July 2010).

Student Loan

Lending volumes have held steady since 2010, with loan amounts higher overall.

Bankcard

• Recent signs of card credit growth driven by$41 billioncredit increase from February –September 2011
• September 2011bankcard delinquencies are 35% lower thanSeptember 2010levels.

Home Equity

Home equity loan balances continue a 12-month decline, withSeptember 2011home equity installment loan balances more than 13% less thanSeptember 2010levels; andSeptember 2011home equity revolving loan balances 6.6% lower thanSeptember 2010levels.

*first mortgage originations are not included in this

Consumer Finance

Total new consumer finance loan amounts have remained consistent over the past 3 years, with$5.2 millionoriginated inJuly 2011(compared to$5.1 millioninJuly 2010; and$5.2 millioninJuly 2009).

Equifax's national analysis is sourced from data on more than 585 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. Conducted on a monthly basis, the research provides detailed levels of consumer credit information from various vertical markets including, mortgage, automotive, student loans and bank and retail credit cards.