Alaskans Love Their Credit Card (Debt)

TransUnion just released their latest data on the credit market and it's looking pretty grim. Despite the economy downturn, credit card debt increased by 2.7 percent to $1,700 in the second quarter of 2008. Surprisingly, Alaskans carry higher balances than anyone else in the US. At almost $2,500, nearly double what residents of Iowa owe on their credit cards. Alaska has also seen a 4.8 percent increase from the previous quarter, topped only by Washington, DC, where residents now have 6.6 percent higher credit card balances.
I expected to see higher balance increases in 'mortage meltdown states' such as CA, FL and NV, but none of these states have seen sharp increases in credit card debt. Maybe all those people who lost their homes down here had to flee to Alaska?

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