consumer credit

American  

noun

1. credit extended by a retail store, bank, finance company, or other lender, chiefly for the purchase of consumer goods.

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Etymology

Origin of consumer credit

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Durable-goods orders are coming at 8:30 a.m., the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s survey of one-year inflation expectations is scheduled for 11 a.m. and consumer credit is due at 3 p.m.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

Home-equity loans are the fastest-growing category of consumer credit, although from a low base, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

The week ahead is relatively quiet for U.K. data, with focus on consumer credit and mortgage lending data for November due on Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Banks have tightened consumer credit standards for three years.

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

Stage One was to apply a formula that had been dreamed up to cope with corporate credit risk to consumer credit risk.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis