S&P/Experian Credit Default Indices Indicate National Default Rates Increased for the Fourth Consecutive Month in December

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Data through December 2011, released today by S&P Indices and Experian for the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices, a comprehensive measure of changes in consumer credit defaults, showed that most loan types saw an increase in default rates during the month. Bank card default rates were the only to decline, from 4.91% in November to 4.60% in December.  Second mortgage default rates increased to 1.33% from 1.26%, auto loans default rates increased to 1.27% from 1.17% and first mortgage default rates increased to 2.19% from 2.17%. The increases in first and second mortgage and auto loans rates caused the national composite to rise from 2.22% to 2.24%, its highest rate since April 2011.

"Led by the mortgage markets, the second half of 2011 saw a slight reversal of the two-year downward trend in consumer credit default rates," says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee for S&P Indices. "First mortgage default rates rose for the fourth consecutive month, as did the composite. Since August, first mortgage default rates have risen from 1.92% to the 2.19%. The composite also rose those months, from 2.04% to 2.24%.  The recent weakness seen in home prices is reflected in these data.  Bank card default rates, on the other hand, were favorable, falling to 4.6% in December. This is more than a full percentage point below the 5.64% we saw as recently as July 2011.

"Looking at the five highlighted cities, three of the five had higher default rates.  Miami had the largest increase, moving from 4.47% in November to 4.73% in December. Dallas rose from 1.38% to 1.56%, but remained the lowest among the five cities we follow. Los Angeles default rates have risen for four consecutive months.  Given what we know about the mortgage markets, it is likely that these cities are seeing this recent weakness because their housing markets have still not stabilized."

Four out of five major Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) reported in this release showed increases in default rates in December. Miami had the highest percentage points default rates increase among all MSAs from 4.47% in November to 4.73% in December. Dallas and Los Angeles increased to 1.56% and 2.54% in December, from 1.38% and 2.53% in November, respectively. Chicago remained flat at 2.84%. New York was the only MSA that saw a decrease in default rates, from 2.21% in November to 2.13% in December.

The table below summarizes the December 2011 results for the S&P/Experian Credit Default Indices. These data are not seasonally adjusted and are not subject to revision.

The table below provides the S&P/Experian Consumer Default Composite Indices for the five MSAs:

About S&P Indices

S&P Indices, a leading brand of the McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), maintains a wide variety of investable and benchmark indices to meet an array of investor needs. Over $1.45 trillion is directly indexed to our indices, which includes the S&P 500, the world's most followed stock market index, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, the S&P Global BMI, an index with approximately 11,000 constituents, the S&P GSCI, the industry's most closely watched commodities index, and the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, the premier investable index for U.S. municipal bonds. For more information, please visit: www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Indices does not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any S&P index-based investment product. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Indices or its affiliates do not have the necessary licenses. S&P Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was $4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

For more information:
Dave Guarino
Communications
S&P Indices
[email protected]
212-438-1471

David Blitzer
Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee
S&P Indices
[email protected]
212-438-3908

Susan Henson
Experian Public Relations
[email protected]
714-830-5129

Jointly developed by S&P Indices and Experian, the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices are published on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 am ET. They are constructed to accurately track the default experience of consumer balances in four key loan categories: auto, bankcard, first mortgage lien and second mortgage lien. The Indices are calculated based on data extracted from Experian's consumer credit database. This database is populated with individual consumer loan and payment data submitted by lenders to Experian every month. Experian's base of data contributors includes leading banks and mortgage companies, and covers approximately $11 trillion in outstanding loans sourced from 11,500 lenders.

For more information, please visit: www.consumercreditindices.standardandpoors.com.

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