Decrease Reported in Loan Delinquencies

The percentage of U.S. consumer loans with overdue payments in the last three months of 2004 dropped to the lowest in 10 years, as rising employment and incomes helped bolster debtor finances, the American Bankers Assn. said.

The number of people behind on personal, auto and home-equity borrowings fell to 1.68%, the lowest since the third quarter of 1994, from 1.9% the previous quarter, the bankers group said. Every type of loan showed improvement.