CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwire – November 17, 2010) – TransUnion’s proprietary Credit Risk Index (CRI) declined for the third consecutive quarter indicating that U.S. consumers are less of a credit risk than in previous quarters. The CRI for the U.S. decreased 0.9 percent in the third quarter of 2010 and now stands at 126.79. At a national level, the CRI dropped 87 basis points (from 127.66), pushing down to a risk level not witnessed in the U.S. since the first quarter of 2009.
“The continued decline in the Credit Risk Index is driven by fewer borrowers delinquent on one or more accounts and lower outstanding debt levels. The gradual decline in the Credit Risk Index, coupled with a 6.5 percent quarterly increase in the demand for credit, as reflected in TransUnion’s 90-day Total Inquiry Index (TII), suggests that consumer credit activity will be stronger in terms of quality and volume,” said Chet Wiermanski, global chief scientist at TransUnion.
