IRVINE, Calif. — Consumers in the U.S. opened credit card accounts at a rate almost 17% slower in 2006 than they did in 2001, according to Experian, a leading consumer credit bureau. The company also reported card accounts are going more than 90 days delinquent at a rate over 12% faster than they did in 2001. Overall, Experian reported the nation's average credit score stood at 675, seven points lower than the 682 it held in 2001.

The rate of consumers opening new accounts, including installment loans (i.e., auto and student loans) and revolving credit accounts (i.e., bank and retail credit cards), in 2006 has fallen to 41% from almost 50% in 2001, the bureau reported. The rate at which consumers were late in payments by 90 days or more increased 12.6% from 2001 (39.6%) to 2006 (44.6%). "The drop in the rate of consumers opening new accounts in 2006 may give the appearance that they are being more conservative with regard to using credit, however this may not be the case when combined with other results from our study," said Ty Taylor, president of Experian Consumer Direct. "Although our data shows a drop in the rate of consumers opening bank credit card accounts, it also shows that their balances on other types of loans, such as installment loans, are increasing."