US consumer credit increased by $13.8 billion in June, less than expected

A shopper walks down 5th Avenue in New York City.
Adam Jeffery | CNBC
A shopper walks down 5th Avenue in New York City.

U.S. consumer credit rose less than expected in June, held back by the largest decline in credit card use in a year as households continue to pay down debts.

Total consumer installment credit increased by $13.8 billion to $2.8 trillion, Federal Reserve data showed on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected consumer credit to rise $15 billion during the month.

Non-revolving credit, which includes loans for cars and college tuition, rose by $16.5 billion. Revolving facilities, which mostly measure credit card use, declined by $2.7 billion, the most since June 2012.

The report does not cover borrowing for homes, which has grown more expensive as mortgage rates rise on expectations the Fed will scale back its bond-buying program by the end of the year. Analysts worry a rapid rise in interest rates could undermine the economy's already sluggish recovery from the 2007-09 recession.

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