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

Data on consumer credit and mortgage lending for January are released on Monday, as well as the latest Nationwide house price index for February.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 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

What is understood by most economists, however, is that a federal rate cap would function as a price control for the consumer credit markets.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

Slowing growth, market volatility and uncertainty among employers could potentially lead to worsening consumer credit performance, he said.

From MarketWatch • 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