2010-03-10 12:04:05 -

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/10/10 -- Credit Karma ( www.creditkarma.com : ), the consumer's credit advocate, today released its U.S. Credit Score Climate Report with trend data for February 2010. Amongst consumers with a credit card, credit card debt increased 6% nationally from January and is the highest it has been in 10 months. The Midwest and Northeast regions showed the highest increases in credit card debt with a 7% increase and Kansas City consumers represented the highest gain for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), increasing debt by 10% in February. In addition, consumers in six states increased their credit card debt by more than 10%. These include:

--  Idaho - credit card debt increased 14% to $8,958
--  Mississippi - credit card debt increased 14% to $7,294
--  Nebraska - credit card debt increased 12% to $8,565
--  New Mexico - credit card debt increased 12% to $8,241
--  Kentucky - credit card debt increased 10% to $8,384
--  Missouri - credit card debt increased 10% to $7,926

In February, the average consumer with an open account had:

--  $8,280 in credit card debt
--  $179,435 in home mortgage loans
--  $52,431 in home equity
--  $14,949 in auto loans
--  $26,961 in student loans

On a positive note, consumer credit scores are remaining stable or increasing in most regions for the first time in a year. Credit scores in the Midwest and Northeast were up one point in February, while the South remained the same and credit scores in the West dropped one point. The current average credit score is 669.



Here are some other key findings:



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Methodology Each month, the Credit Karma U.S. Consumer Credit Score Climate Report compares the current credit scores of its user base with previous scores pulled at least 30 days prior and no more than 90 days prior to the stated month. This month's report includes a comparison of more than 99,500 Credit Karma user scores.



About Credit Karma Credit Karma enables consumers to put their credit to work for their overall financial health. Credit Karma's goal is to help its more than 1 million users realize the everyday cost savings of having a good credit score by providing a range of tools and resources to help consumers improve their financial situation. For more information, visit www.creditkarma.com : .

Contact:
Jessica Swain
Atomic PR on behalf of Credit Karma
Jessica.Swain@atomicpr.com :
415-593-1400