More Americans Are Making Only Minimum Payments on Credit Cards

The share of active credit cards in the US making only minimum monthly payments rose in the fourth quarter to the highest level in 12 years of data, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Some 11.1% of active accounts made only minimum payments, up from 10.9% in the third quarter, the Philadelphia Fed said in a report published Wednesday. The share of accounts 90 days past due also rose to a record.

“These trends, along with a new series high for revolving card balances, indicate greater consumer stress,” the report’s authors said.

The data indicate Americans were ...