Federal Reserve Bulletin

Profits and Balance Sheet Developments at U.S. Commercial Banks in 2005

Figure 10. Net percentage of selected banks reporting tightened standards for consumer lending, 1996-2006. Data plotted as curves. Two panels. In the top panel, consumer loans other than credit cards begins in 1996 at about 15 percent in the first quarter of 1996, rises to a peak of about 25 percent in late 1996, then declines, on balance, to about zero percent at the end of 1999. It rises to reach about 20 percent in early 2001, then moves in a range of between about 20 percent and 10 percent through mid-2003. It declines, on balance, to reach negative 10 percent in mid-2005, and then rises to zero percent in early 2006. In the bottom panel, credit card loans exhibits a pattern similar to that just described. It begins in 1996 at about 25 percent, rises to reach about 50 percent in late 1996, and declines, on balance, to reach about negative 5 percent in late 2000. It rises to reach about 20 percent in mid-2001 and then moves in a range of between about 10 percent and 20 percent through mid-2003. It declines, on balance, to about negative 10 percent in mid-2005 and then rises to about 5 percent in early 2006.

Note: Refer to figure 5, general note and source note.  Return to article