It’s no secret that credit card companies are raking in the dough. But just how much are they making? And at what cost to consumers?
A new report from the Credit Card Index sheds some light on these questions. The report shows that the average credit card interest rate is a whopping 13.97 percent. And the average credit limit is just over $5,000.
But it’s not all bad news. The report also shows that the average annual fee is only $13. And the average grace period is 21 days.
So what does this all mean for consumers? Well, if you’re carrying a balance on your credit card, you’re probably paying a lot more in interest than you need to. And if you’re only making minimum payments, it’s going to take you a long time to pay off your debt.
But there are some bright spots. If you’re disciplined about paying off your balance every month, you can avoid paying interest altogether. And if you’re careful about using your credit card, you can avoid annual fees and late payment fees.
The bottom line is that credit cards can be expensive. But if you use them wisely, they can be a valuable tool in your financial arsenal.