Fifty percent (50%) of Americans say interest rates on their credit cards have been raised in the past six months, as Congress seeks to limit the ability of banks to raise those rates.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% say the interest rates have not been raised on any of their credit cards in that period. Nineteen percent (19%) aren’t sure.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of adults say an increase in the interest rate on a credit card makes them less likely to use that card. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree and say they are not less likely to use a credit card after the interest rate has been raised.

But then 51% of adults say they pay their credit cards in full each month, thereby avoiding any interest payments. However, nearly as many (45%) say they sometimes carry a balance on their cards.

In May of this year, nearly one-out-of-four Americans said they were at least somewhat likely to miss a credit card payment in the next six months.

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Only 16% say they are carrying more credit card debt than they did a year ago. That’s down five points from December of last year. Thirty-four percent (34%) say they have less credit card debt now, and 46% say their level of debt is about the same.

Twenty-six percent (26%) say they do not know the interest rate their pay on their primary credit card. Sixty-one percent (61%) say they do know that interest rate, but 13% are not sure.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Americans believe that credit card companies take unfair advantage of consumers with the interest rates they charge. Just 14% do not agree.

New restrictions on the ability of credit card companies to raise interest rates and fees go into effect early next year, but with many companies raising their rates in anticipation, Congress is considering legislation to freeze rates and fees where they are now.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Americans say there is a need for more government oversight of the credit card industry.

A majority of Americans continue to worry, though, that if Congress requires credit card companies to reduce the interest they charge it will be harder for some people to get approved for new credit cards.

Twenty-four percent (24%) of Americans say they personally need to cut back on their use of credit cards and other borrowing anyway.

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