U.S. consumer debt outstanding grew by a smaller-than-expected amount in April, the Federal Reserve Board said today.

The U.S. central bank said credit grew by a seasonally adjusted US$3.9 billion in April, after an upwardly revised US$9.3 billion jump in March. The March increase had previously been reported as a smaller US$5.7 billion gain.

Economists had expected credit to post a larger jump in April of about US$6.1 billion.

In the April report, the Fed revolving credit — which tracks borrowing on credit and charge cards — fell by US$3.2 billion in April. Revolving credit had also dipped in February.