Credit Card interest rates resume narrow decline

NEW YORK - The average annual interest rates charged on popular types of credit cards fell slightly this week, resuming a multiweek decline after wavering last week, according to Bankrate.com Monday.

For low-interest cards, which have rates below the national average but are often offered only to customers with strong credit histories, the average APR slipped to 11.38 percent, from 11.44 percent the week before.

Cash back cards, which feature cash or other reward incentives and generally require a good-to-excellent credit rating for approval, saw their average APR edge down to 13.58 percent from 13.61 percent.

For balance transfer cards, which allow consumers to consolidate outstanding debt from one or more cards and sometimes include a low introductory rate, average annual percentage rate inched down to 13.13 percent, from 13.14 percent the week before.

Overall, the average APR charged for all variable rate cards tracked by Bankrate was 11.10 percent, down from 11.27 percent the previous week.

Bankrate surveys the 10 largest banks and thrifts in the 10 largest markets in the U.S. to determine its averages.

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