Consumers borrow more in October as economy improves

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans stepped up their borrowing in October to buy cars and attend college, and they also charged a little more to their credit cards. The second straight monthly gain in overall borrowing suggests consumers are growing more confident in the economy ahead of the crucial holiday buying season.

Total consumer borrowing rose by $7.3 billion, the Federal Reserve said today. September and October's gains reversed a steep drop in borrowing from August, when it fell by the most in 16 months.

The October increase reflected a 5.3 percent increase in borrowing in the category that includes car and student loans. The category that covers credit card purchases rose 0.6 percent, which matched September's gain after a revision.

Throughout the summer, many Americans were cautious about taking on high-interest debt in a weak economy.