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Credit cards

This dashboard provides access to data about general purpose credit cards, which are open-end loans used by consumers to pay for day-to-day expenses, finance purchases, or provide cash advances. 

Data snapshot

5.9 million
Credit cards originated (April 2019)


$34.6 billion
Aggregate credit limits of new cards (April 2019)


8.0% increase
In year-over-year originations (April 2019)


0.7% increase
In year-over-year inquiries (August 2019)


1.7% increase
In year-over-year credit tightness (April 2019)

Origination activity

Lending levels

The number and volume of credit cards originated each month.

Year-over-year changes

Year-over-year changes in the number and volume of credit cards originated by month.

Geographic changes

Geographic distribution of the year-over-year change in the volume of credit cards originated.

Inquiry activity

Inquiry index

The number of consumers with credit card inquiries (hard credit pulls) each month indexed to January 2009 levels.

Credit tightness index

The number of consumers with credit card inquiries and no subsequent loan opening each month indexed to January 2009 levels.

Borrower risk profiles

Volume of credit cards by credit score

Exploring the origination of credit cards to consumers at different credit score levels.

Year-over-year changes by credit score

Detailing the year-over-year changes in origination activity for credit cards by credit score.

Lending to low-to-moderate income neighborhoods

Volume of credit cards by income level

Examining the origination of credit cards to consumers based on the income level of the neighborhood in which they reside.

Year-over-year changes by credit score

Detailing the year-over-year changes in origination activity for credit cards by income level.

Lending by borrower age

Volume of credit cards by age group

Exploring how lending activity is changing for borrowers by age.

Year-over-year changes by borrower age

Detailing the year-over-year changes in origination activity for credit cards by borrower age.