US consumer borrowing increased $20.5 billion in April, helped by big gain in credit cards

In this Thursday, June 4, 2015, photo, Jazmin Donati, left, hands a customer his credit card after making a sale at Panther Coffee, in Miami. The Federal Reserve releases its April report on consumer borrowing on Friday, June 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON – Consumer borrowing surged again in April, helped by the largest gain in credit card borrowing in a year.

The Federal Reserve says consumer borrowing expanded by $20.5 billion in April, down only slightly from a gain of $21.3 billion in March which was the biggest increase in eight months. The strong gains pushed consumer credit to a fresh record of $3.38 trillion.

Borrowing in the category that includes credit cards jumped by $8.6 billion, the largest rise in 12 months. Borrowing in the category that covers auto and student loans advanced a solid $11.9 billion, after an even bigger $16.5 billion increase in March.

Economists expect consumers, who have seen strong job gains over the past year, will keep borrowing and spending in coming months, helping to boost overall economic growth.