Rise in consumer debt drops by half in month

WASHINGTON -- U.S. consumer borrowing increased by $6.5 billion in April, just half the March gain, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday.

Total borrowing rose to a seasonally adjusted $2.55 trillion.

The increase was driven by a $10 billion rise in a category that measures auto and student loans. That offset a $3.4 billion drop in credit card debt, the first decline since January.