Consumers still reluctant to deal with more credit card debt?

Even as credit card lenders are now increasing marketing efforts for rewards accounts that come with very generous introductory offers, many consumers may still be too cautious about dealing with credit card debt to take full advantage.

Some new rewards card offers are now worth more than $1,000 in points, but in many cases, consumers just aren't biting, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The recent recession may have played a major role in reshaping consumer borrowing behavior, making many more cautious of opening accounts that will lead to larger amounts of debt. And while some consumers are indeed spending more on their accounts, many still don't carry a balance from one month to the next.

"As we come out of this recession, most of the increase in spending we've seen has come from mass-affluent customers," Mark Ford, a senior vice president at PNC Financial Services Group, told the newspaper.

Consumers have been conscientious in their efforts to find debt relief in the wake of the recession, leading to falling balances nationwide, as well as fewer instances of both delinquency and default.